COMMERCIAL

STANDARDS

BUREAU OF STAN0ARt|

JAN X 9 1931

LIBRARY

MONTHLY

A Review of Progress in

Commercial Standardization and Simplification

ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS OF THE

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

Vol. 7, No. 7 JANUARY, 1931

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C. See page 3 of cover for prices
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

R. P. Lamont, Secretary

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

George K. Burgess, Director

COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY

S. F. Tillman, Editor

DIVISIONS OF THE COMMERCIAL STANDARDIZATION GROUP

DIVISION OF SIMPLIFIED PRACTICE, Edwin W. Ely.

The division of simplified practice was formed in November,

1921, to provide a clearing house or centralizing agency through

which the manufacturer, distributor, and consumer groups

could meet to discuss their common problems and decide upon

eliminations which would prove of mutual benefit to all concerned. The activities of the division are purely cooperative

in character. It orders nothing; it dictates nothing; the ini- tiative must come from business itself. It has no regulatory nor police powers to enforce adherence to the simplified-practice

recommendations that industry develops under the auspices

of the United States Department of Commerce. Its chief function is to serve as a neutral meeting ground for the purpose

of bringing together producers, distributors, and consumers, whose aims are sometimes divergent and possibly antagonistic,

and who would be unwilling to cooperate, except through some

unbiased central agency. Following the approval of the tentative simplified-practice recommendation by a general conference

of all interested elements thereof, the project is then presented

to the entire industry by letter referendum for its approval and

written acceptance, the publication and indorsement of the recommendation on the part of the Department of Commerce

being dependent upon acceptance of the program by at least 80 per cent, by volume, of the manufacturers, distributors, and

users concerned.

BUILDING AND HOUSING DIVISION, J. S. Taylor.

The division of building and housing cooperates with business, technical, and professional groups in practically all its undertakings on building and housing. Its work to modernize

building codes and to encourage improved standards for the

quality of building construction promotes the practical application of the latest development in design and use of build- ing materials. This division was also formed in 1921. In furthering home ownership, an effort is made to develop an enlarged, steadier, more intelligent, and more discriminating

demand for soundly built dwellings, the largest single class of buildings which the construction industries provide. The

division also cooperates with many business and professional groups in efforts to distribute building activity more evenly

throughout the year, and to secure less fluctuation from year

to year. The work on city planning and zoning has in mind

the broad objective of buildings made more useful because

well located with respect to other buildings, a well-coordinated

street system, and appropriate public works. Good city

planning and zoning likewise encourages stability in land

values and property uses, and thereby contributes to the demand for durable structures.

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 activities involving cooperation with technical

societies; trade associations; Federal, State, and municipal

Government specifications making and using agencies; producers, distributors, and consumers; and testing and research

laboratories. The cooperation with technical societies and

trade associations includes ascertaining the standardization

and specification promoting activities of these organizations,

and bringing to their attention the work being done by the commercial standardization group. The cooperation with

governmental agencies and other consumers includes the bringing of Federal specifications and commercial standards to the

attention of the maximum number of producers and the maximum number of users of commodities complying with these

specifications and standards, thereby assisting in broadening

the field of supply. The cooperation with producers involves the compilation and distribution of lists of manufacturers who

have expressed their willingness to certify to purchasers, upon

request, that material supplied by them on contracts based on

certain Federal specifications or commercial standards comply

with the requirements thereof. The cooperation with distributors involves bringing to their attention the benefits to be

derived by them as both buyers and sellers from handling

nationally specified, certified, and labeled commodities. The

division prepares the directories of governmental and nongovernmental testing laboratories; the Directory of Specifications;

and is working on an encyclopedia of specifications, the first volume of which, Standards and Specifications in the WoodUsing Industries, has been issued. It also aids in preparing

the Standards Yearbook.

DIVISION OF TRADE STANDARDS, I. J. Fairchild.

The commercial standards unit, now known as division of trade standards, was created on October 1, 1927, for the purpose

of aiding those industrial and commercial groups desiring to establish standards of grades, quality, or measurements for their products or their purchases on a purely voluntary basis. The division functions only at the direct request of the in- dustry concerned. Its procedure is similar to that of the divi- sion of simplified practice, except that at least 65 per cent of the industry, by volume of annual production, must accept

the commercial standard in writing before it is published by

the Department of Commerce. A certification plan is applied on request as a means of increasing the effectiveness of such

standards. 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

industry.

Except where otherwise indicated, for further information address

BUREAU OF STANDARDS

WASHINGTON, D. C.
COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY

A Review of Progress in

Commercial Standardization and Simplification

Volume 7 WASHINGTON, D. C., JANUAKY, 1931 Number 7

CONTENTS

FEATURE ARTICLES

Accomplishments of the American Standards Association Chairmen of standing committees for simplified practice

recommendations convene Commercial standard for industrial fuel oils Fire-resistance tests International traffic regulations

New dietary standards developed

Making standards effective Safety measures for outdoor antennae Standard methods of measuring corrosiveness of soils-

_

Standards as a basis for reporting news on farm products.

Steel reinforcing bars and steel spiral rods

Page

195

197 214

215

194 213

221 202

199 207 206

TRADE STANDARDS NEWS

Commercial standards for mirrors 213

Cotton fabric tents, tarpaulins, and covers 208

Fuel oil standard reaffirmed for another year 218

Gage blanks standardized 217

Revised commercial standard for wrought-iron pipe nipples before industry for acceptance 211 Standard for dress patterns 219

Standard for steel screwed unions reaffirmed 198 Standard methods for measuring boys’ shirts adopted __ 228

Wall-paper industry adopts certification plan 220 SIMPLIFIED PRACTICE NEWS

Regional recommendation for high-volatile bituminous

coal 229

Simplification briefs 201

Simplification project active in lumber industry 210

Simplified list of sizes of ice-cream cups approved 209

Simplified practice valuable aid in purchasing 219

FOREIGN NEWS

Page

New Zealand may adopt British standards 212 Norwegian standards committee submits proposals for standardization 228

CERTIFICATION AND LABELING NEWS

Certification by lumber and brick manufacturers as- sured 230

STANDARDIZATION NEWS

Activities of American Standards Association 203

Advancement noted in aeronautics research 212

Destructive weathering of roofing slate 218

Efficient wood utilization promoted by Panama Canal- _ 210

Electrical motor and generator standards 230

Extraction of bituminous saturated felts studied 229

Federal specifications 229

New and revised publications issued by the National Bureau of Standards 218

New method for determining magnesium in Portland cement 229

Primary standard of light 230

Progress on American marine standards 211

Quality standards for eggs 202

Revised scale for motor fuels 220

S. A. E. standards for tractor-trailer connections 196

S. A. E. urges standardization for motor-boat tachometer

drive 217

Standardization briefs 204

Standard paper grades urged by united typothetae 205

Uniform air rules urged 214 Uniform system of standardizing viscosity of oils.- 198

AN INVITATION TO VISIT THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS

An interesting fact in the growth of the bureau is the steady increase in the number of visitors. From all over the world experts come to see the work in progress in many specialties. Not alone the

experts but in growing numbers many of our people visit the bureau from a public-spirited desire to acquaint themselves with its research work. All visitors—from the newspaper men, who have called the

bureau a “ house of wonders,” to the specialists, who use its services—are welcome, for it is their bureau

in a very real sense. They are the owners of the business and its beneficiaries. The annual per capita

cost of 2 cents which the average citizen pays toward the operation of the bureau yields returns sometimes a hundredfold or a thousandfold. How science turns wastes into profits, increases the useful life of materials, adds new efficiencies to industry, advances new arts, such as aviation and radio, by research

and discovery—these are to be seen first-hand in the scientific and technical laboratories of the bureau.

A cordial invitation is extended to all citizens 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 discoveries and inventions which have been notable, basic contributions to radio, aviation, and other modern

arts and industries.

George K. Burgess, Director.

30782-31- •l 193
International Traffic Regulations

Pan American Republics Favor Uniformity

in Vehicular Regulation

C

ERTIFIED COPIES of the Pan American Convention on the

Regulation of Automotive Traffic in the American Republics

have been sent to the signatory nations, to assist in bringing

about early ratification, according to an announcement by the

Director General of the Pan American Union, Dr. Leo S. Rowe.

The convention, which was signed October 6, 1930, at the Pan American

Union in Washington, provided for uniform rules for control and regular

tion of vehicular traffic, with each State retaining exclusive jurisdiction over its own highways.

The agreement was drawn originally at the second Pan American

Highway Congress at Rio de Janeiro, in 1929. Signatures were affixed by

the representatives of the Pan American nations who were attending the

Sixth International Road Congress, during the assembly of that international organisation in Washington laSt October.

Under the terms of the convention automobiles mu^t be registered

in the manner prescribed by the State of origin. The international registration marker, the measurements of which were outlined, shall also be

carried by the vehicles. International reciprocity in registration was established in the convention.

Passing on the right when meeting another vehicle, and passing to the

left when overtaking, the practice in the United States and generally

throughout Latin America, was agreed upon by the contracting nations.

Right of way at intersections was given to the machine on the right.

Other parts of the convention established uniform brake, horn, lighting,

and mechanical requirements before an automobile could be admitted to

international traffic. Danger, restriction, and direction signs were made

uniform, as were regulations governing size of vehicle and loads.

The convention will become effective in each nation on the date of

the depositing of ratification with the Pan American Union. When the

convention has been ratified by the nations and is in effect there will be

more uniformity among them than exists in the United States, in the opinion

of the officials of the Pan American Union.

Nineteen of the twenty-one Pan American Republics signed the

convention. They were: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, CoSta

Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico,

Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, El Salvador, Uruguay, Venezuela, and

the LJnited States.

194
JANUARY, 1931 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 195

ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE AMERICAN STANDARDS ASSOCIATION

Annual Resume of the Activities of the Association During 1930

By W. J. Serrill, President, American Standards Association

A review of the work of the American Standards

Association for 1930 illustrates the fact that tools and

talent are essential to good work. In our case, the

tool, which we lacked in the past was the money to spread the association’s usefulness. There has always

been an array of talent on the standards council, the

technical committees, and the staff, but the staff had

been to small to do many of the things which would

make American standards better known and more

widely followed.

In 1930 the work of the American Standards Association gained impetus from the smoother functioning under the reorganization of two years ago and from

the larger staff which the increased resources made

possible. During the year a total of 46 national standards were approved by the association. This is at the

rate of nearly one a week; and while judgment in

such matters must not be based on quantity alone, none

the less as a record of work accomplished and, more

important, valuable service to American industry, it

is a fact of which both the association and those who

have contributed in any way to this work may well

be proud.

Of the 46 standards approved, 19 were entirely new,

and 27 were revisions of previous standards. Several

of the new projects have been studied for nearly 10

years, although the majority of them were initiated more recently. Of the total, 8 were in the mechanical

group, 7 in civil engineering, 5 chemical, 3 electrical,

2 mining, 2 woodworking, and 19 in the miscellaneous

classification. Some of these are worthy of particular note. The

Safety Code for the Use, Care, and Protection of

Abrasive Wheels is of concern to a great variety of

manufacturing industries, and since the publication of

the standard there has been a steady, heavy demand

for copies. The Code for Lighting Mills, Factories,

and Other Work Places is also one of wide application. It represents the result of long, scientific study

and the recommendations are such as to be of practical

value to architects and factory managers in planning

their lighting for both economy and efficiency. The

Recommended Practice for the Use of Explosives in

Bituminous Coal Mines and the Recommended Practice for Fire Fighting Equipment in Metal Mines have

been commented on very favorably by certain State

mine department heads who say that these standards

fill a long-needed requirement of the mining industry.

A group of dimensional standards, icludig those

for ball and roller bearings, dimensions of cut and

ground taps, and track bolts and nuts are of particular

importance in the mechanical engineering field. The

Safety Code for Mechanical Refrigeration, approved

in November, 1930, is considered so important that

several manufacturing groups are planning comprehensive promotion activities that will bring it to the

attention of municipal authorities, chambers of commerce, real estate boards, State regulatory bodies, and

the technical and daily press.

Sales of standards doubled in 1930.

It is indicative of increased interest to note that

the sale of published standards during 1930 was more

than double that of the previous year. Also an ever- increasing number of people are making use of the

American Standards Association information service

as an aid in studying their own particular standardization problems. Since June, 1930, the American

Standards Association Bulletin, which is available

primarily to sustaining members and member bodies,

has been sent monthly in printed form—another improvement made possible by additions to the staff. In

a printed magazine it is possible to include a larger

amount of material in more convenient and usable

form. Each month 250 or more marked copies of the

Bulletin have been sent to magazines, trade associations, companies, and individuals as a means of

securing publicity and promoting the work of the

association.

Many of the activities mentioned would have been

impossible of accomplishment but for the 3-year un- derwriting fund which brought the resources of the

American Standards Association up to about $150,000

a year. A total of 16 organizations have made special

contributions which for 1930 totaled $95,000. Early

in 1931 an intensive effort will be made to increase

the sustaining membership so that the revenue from

this source may be sufficient to carry on the association’s work in a way that will be of greatest practical

value.

To say that standardization, as a vital factor in such

a highly industrialized country as ours, is being more

and more widely recognized at its real value by industry generally, and that its lessons are no longer confined to the realm of theory, but can be measured in

very definite terms of dollars and cents, is a logical

conclusion that may be drawn from a survey of the

association’s work last year. One might look upon standardization as the third

basic element in a powerful industrial triumvirate—

the other two being advertising and research. There

is good supporting opinion to substantiate the state- ment that more lasting value is to be found in sound

standardization development than is to be reasonably

expected from high-pressure salesmanship which has

a tendency to increase the ultimate cost of goods to the final user because of the excessive cost of highpowerd sales methods.

If the American Standards Association has contributed to a better understanding of the great practical

economies that can result from intelligent sandardizaion in manufacturing processes, then the application of

this knowledge to the present situation should help

in allaying some of the industrial ills from which the

whole country has been suffering in recent months.

American Standards Association continues to grow.

In spite of the general business conditions, the

American Standards Association has continued to
196 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY JANUARY, 1931 grow and expand its sphere of usefulness. Since the

1928 reorganization, 10 new member bodies have be- come affiliated with our work. Six of these national

groups came in during 1930. The American Railway

Association is now participating more actively in our work in a way that is exceedingly valuable both to them and to ourselves. The sustaining membership

list has also been increased and revenue from this source is in excess of that of the previous year. The facilities of an enlarged staff have permitted

the association to establish close, cooperative relationship with a large number of State regulatory bodies

and with many State industrial organizations. The

enlistment of their interest is valuable in furthering

the work of the American Standards Association by

making American standards more widely known. A

resolution passed at the meeting of the Association of

Government Labor Officials in industry, held in May,

1930, illustrates the far-reaching effects of such co- operation. The report, which was unanimously

approved by the convention, said in part

It is very evident that no State legislature will be induced

to enact safety laws of the right kind unless there is presented

to it some definite, logical, and workable plan to be adopted

and followed, which would make the laws effective. Therefore, the officials of each State are urged to study the pro- cedure in all of the States, and out of the fund of practical

experience formulate a plan that will make effective its own

safety program.

In the formulation of safety regulations and the adoption of

specific safety devices, your committee suggests and urges the

consideration of the various safety codes adopted by tbe American Standards Association, known as the National

Safety Codes. These constitute the best thought and judgment of the foremost safety engineers and experts in accident prevention work in the United States. Sixteen of these codes have been published as bulletins by the Bureau of Labor

Statistics and are available upon request. The association still maintains a member on the

planning committee of the division of simplified practice of the National Bureau of Standards. A. A.

Stevenson has been the representative on this committee and was recently elected chairman.

A member of the American Standards Association

staff attended a series of meetings on technical subjects which were a part of the conference of the Inter- national Standards Association held in Paris in May,

1930. Among the decisions of great interest to American industry was the election of the American Standards Association to appoint a member on the International Standards Association council beginning

January 1, 1931, and the assignment to the American

group of the international secretariat for the project on Nomenclature and Methods of Test of Petroleum

Products.

While the total of progress for the year has been

commendable, there is still plenty of work ahead.

Certain of this may well be mentioned because it includes extensions of activties which have already

been started. New work planned.

First comes the permanent financing through a much larger number of companies contributing to the

support of the work. As more industries become

familiar with standardization developments it is in- evitable that they will cooperate financially as well as otherwise. During the next year increased promotion

is planned to make the American Standards Association and its functions more widely known. This will

be directed with a view not only to increase the sus- taining membership, but also to expand the sale of

published standards. The association needs more member bodies, and more of these prospective groups

need the American Standards Association for the

development of standards that concern their own

membership.

As an aid to these objectives more contacts must be

made in the middle and far west. Until recently

the staff has been too limited to develop this fertile territory. Then, too, staff members must make many

more visits to industries, not only as a help in their

own work but also to increase the service of the American Standards Association to its membership. The

enlarged personnel has made it possible for the staff to keep in closer contact with the work of various

sectional committees, many of whose meetings have

been attended by staff members.

There is every indication that a much larger field of usefulness lies ahead for the American Standards

Association especially with increased membership and

the addition of new member bodies, because progress

in both of these directions will uncover more problems

requiring standardization where a final agreement on

standards arrived at under American Standards Association procedure will be of practical economic benefit

to producer and consumer alike.

SOCIETY OF AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERS

STANDARDS FOR TRACTOR-TRAILER CONNECTIONS

Meeting Submits Recommendations on 4-Wheel Trailer Eye

and Pintle Connection

The increasing importance of having adequate interchangeability between different makes of semitrailer

and trailer connections was emphasized at the November 13, 1930, meeting of the subdivision of the

motor-coach and motor-truck division of the Society

of Automotive Engineers, particularly from the truck

operators’ viewpoint. The subdivision decided to develop first a I-wheel trailer eye and pintle connection,

the standard to apply to the eye so as to leave each

trailer manufacturer free to design his own type of

pintle that will be interchangeable in the standard eye.

It was suggested that the eye be made l^L-inch

round-section stock with the opening 2% inches in di- ameter, and that a minimum drawbar pull of 80,000

pounds be provided for. The subdivision is to give further study to the most

desirable method of securing interchangeability of

semitrailer fifth-wheel connections in the upper or lower section of the fifth wheel, which method, if embodied in a dimensional standard, should govern

the size of the pin and specify its location.

Future recommendations of the subdivision on the

foregoing types of connection will be circulated among

the vehicle manufacturers and the operators for their

criticism or approval before a final standard is adopted

by the society in order to assure that whatever standards are adopted will be entirely acceptable to all branches of the industry that will be affected.
JANUARY, 1931 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 197

CHAIRMEN OF STANDING COMMITTEES FOR SIMPLIFIED PRACTICE

RECOMMENDATIONS CONVENE

Secretary of Commerce Makes Opening Address; Periodic Conferences of this Character Favored

By Edwin W. Ely, National Bureau of Standards

The chairmen of standing committees in charge of

simplified practice recommendations, meeting at the

Department of Commerce, on November 24 and 25,

1930, unanimously indorsed the value of waste-eliminating policies promoted by the various industries

under the auspices of the division of simplified

practice of the National Bureau of Standards.

In the short period of nine years, American industries desirous of developing group simplification programs, have, with the cooperation of the division

of simplified practice, proposed and promulgated more

than 115 simplified practice recommendations covering

as many commodities. A simplified practice recom- mendation is one of the best examples of self- government in business ; it is also an example of how

an industry may be helped by the nonregulatory

cooperation of the Federal Government.

Standing committees, appointed by, and representing all elements in the respective industries, periodically revise the programs to keep them abreast of

changing conditions in the trade. The total personnel of these more than 115 standing committees

aggregate approximately 1,000 representative business men. It is apparent that the division of simplified

practice has before it an opportunity to effectively

and usefully organize available talent and enthusiasm.

If it is to make the most of this opportunity, and

if maximum results are to be obtained from the total

effort, some means must be found whereby the division

may maintain adequate contact with the entire personnel of the standing committees.

Each of these committees has its own problems in

promoting the use of its particular simplification program and the task of adequately revising the recom- mendations in terms of changing conditions. In many

cases the standing committees have not been fully

utilizing the facilities and experience of the division

of simplified practice.

In order to afford an opportunity to consider the

broader aspects of the simplification movement, and

to provide a means for the exchange of experience

among committee chairmen and the discussion of best

methods of solving problems which are unquestionably common to all active simplified practice recommendations, the Secretary of Commerce called this

conference of chairmen of standing committees.

The proposal that there be such a conference was

originally projected in June, 1930, and at that time

met with a ready response. When the meeting was

called to order on November 24, there were present 28

committee chairmen, members of 11 other committees

acting as alternates of their respective chairmen, and

11 observers from other industries. While the latter were neither chairmen nor committee members, each

had been intimately associated with the development

of simplified practice recommendations. The confer- ence personnel, exclusive of the 7 members of the

division’s planning committee and Government

officials, represented more than 50 distinct industries.

It was this group, in the market to buy each other’s

products, that was successful in giving added impetus

to the national movement to eliminate waste, through

the application of simplified practice.

In opening the conference the Secretary of Commerce, Robert P. Lamont, declared that a better understanding of waste-eliminating principles in industry

would contribute substantially toward alleviating busi- ness depression, and urged that an intensive effort be

made to acquaint the consumer with the benefits of

simplified practice.

Secretary Lamont outlined the broader field of application of the simplified practice movement and declared that the factor which has contributed most to

its successful progress has been the cooperation shown

by industries in adhering to the recommendations:

“ But the conditions through which we have been

passing,” the Secretary added, “ have put to a severe

test and have created grave temptations to producers

and distributors to depart from the recommendations.

“ It is natural that each standing committee should

feel that its primary duty is to its own industry and

its own simplified practice recommendation. The department, on the other hand, is in a position to take

a broad view of the whole simplified practice movement.

“ Viewing it from this standpoint,” he declared,

“it has seemed that the excellent results now being

secured by the committees working as units could be

multiplied by further coordination. This idea or suggestion is the central theme of this conference.”

Following the address of the Secretary of Commerce, A. W. Shaw, chairman of the Committee on

Recent Economic Changes, presiding officer of the conference, traced the simplification movement from its origin as a war conversation measure. “ The philosophy of simplification in war time,” he said, “ is to cut down demand ; in peace time, the purpose is to lower

costs so that demand can be increased.”

Other speakers on the program.

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

Standards and chairman of the Federal Specifications

Board, advised the conference as to the extent to which

the planning committee of the division of simplified

practice had kept the division acquainted with the

major aspects of its problems, the elimination of waste

through simplification. He also described the work

of the Federal Specifications Board.

Edwin W. Ely, chief of the division of simplified

practice, reviewed the status of simplification, briefly

described the present procedure followed in cooperating with industry, and told of the spread of the simplification idea to foreign countries and of the introduction of its study in the colleges and universities of

the United States.
198 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY JANUARY, 1931

Dr. Frank M. Surface, Assistant Director, Bureau

of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, in discussing the

relationships betiveen the work of his divisions and

that of the division of simplified practice, pointed out

that he is finding that the great variety of products

is one of the wastes that is disturbing distribution.

Capt. D. B. Wainwright, jr., Acting Chief Coordinator, United States Bureau of the Budget, ex- plained the functions of his office, and described the

close association of simplified practice recommendations and Federal specifications in the work of Government procurement officers. Open discussion.

The ensuing discussion of the various points on the

agenda was stimulated by specific questions from A.

A. Stevenson, chairman of the Planning Committee

for Simplified Practice, and by pertinent statements

made by Dr. Wilson Compton, secretary and manager,

National Lumber Manufacturers’ Association, Washington, D. C. ; R. W. Johnson, engineer, Concrete

Reinforcing Steel Institute, Chicago, 111. ; and Ryland

L. Lockwood, vice president, United States Skid

Service Corporation, New York, N. Y.

Conference results.

Among the outstanding results of the conference

may be mentioned : Approval of discretionary powers

of the division relative to deciding when volume of

recorded acceptance warrants publication of a simplified practice recommendation, suggestions concerning

the use of identifying labels, approval of the formation of regional committees, and the institution of a quarterly news-letter from the division to the standing

committees.

The general tenor of the discussion indicated complete confidence in the simplification movement and

in the division’s procedure for assisting industry to eliminate waste. When the motion for adjournment was made, shortly

after noon of the second day, the conferees expressed

the wish that the department arrange a periodic

repetition of this conference, supplemented with an

informal dinner or smoker.

UNIFORM SYSTEM OF STANDARDIZING VISCOSITY OF OILS

Society of Automotive Engineers System Aids Manufacturer, Dealer, and Consumer in Determining

Viscosity of Oil Needed

A uniform system of standardizing the viscosity

of oil has been developed by the Society of Automotive

Engineers, with the cooperation of leading automotive

and oil manufacturers. This system has been called

the Society of Automotive Engineers viscosity numbering system, and, as the name implies, concerns itself only with that one property of oil. Hitherto oils in the various brands have been marked

light, medium, heavy, extra heavy, etc. This repre- sented merely a classification system for each individual manufacturer, and naturally resulted in a wide

variation between brands; so much so that an oil marked “ light ” by one manufacturer actually possessed a body or viscosity heavier than one marked

“ heavy ” by another company.

Under the new system it is possible for the auto- mobile manufacturer and dealer to instruct motorists

as to the exact oil viscosity needed for his particular*

driving conditions. The system is very simple. The

possible oil viscosities have been arbitrarily divided

into six groups, ranging from very light oil, which

is now marked “ S. A. E. viscosity No. 10,” to extra heavy oil which is marked “ S. A. E. viscosity No. 70.” The motorist is now instructed to use, for example,

S. A. E. No. 40 for summer driving and S. A. E. No.

30 for winter driving.

In other words, oils may now be ordered by size or consistency of body; that is, viscosity.

While there are many factors which go to make up

the quality of a motor oil and affect the service it gives the motorist, the viscosity or body of the oil

is its most important single property. Indeed, say

the lubrication experts, a fair quality oil of proper

viscosity will give better results than an exceptionally

good oil of improper viscosity or body for a given

purpose.

It is obviously impossible for the automobile manufacturer to enable the customer to distinguish all the

elements of quality, but it is both possible and important to find some dependable method of advising

to motorist as to the proper viscosity of oil for use

in a given car under certain conditions.

Standardization of this kind is only valuable when

it comes into general use. The automobile manufacturers have indicated in their instruction books

the Society of Automotive Engineers number of the

oil to be used, and the manufacturers of lubricating

oils have clearly marked their oils to show these

numbers.

Motorists can assist in bringing this standardization of oil viscosity into use by asking for motor oil in accordance with the designation of the Society of

Automotive Engineers.

STANDARD FOR STEEL SCREWED UNIONS

REAFFIRMED

As a result of a recent survey among the manufacturers to determine adherence to the Commercial

Standard for Standard Weight Malelable Iron or

Steel Screwed Unions, CS7-29, a summarized report was issued on December 11, 1930, indicating that,

among the six manufacturers reporting, G6.7 per cent of production conformed to the requirements of the

standard.

In accordance with the recommendation of the

standing committee, the existing standard was re- affirmed, without change, for another year beginning

November 1, 1930.
JANUARY, 1931 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 199

STANDARD METHODS OF MEASURING CORROSIVENESS OF SOILS

Methods for Testing Soils, Pipes, and Protective Coatings Discussed at the National Bureau of Standards’

Second Conference on Soil Corrosion

By K. H. Logan, National Bureau of Standards

In conducting an extensive series of tests planned

primarily to determine the seriousness of soil action on buried pipes, it was learned that a very considerable number of owners of pipe lines were conducting

experiments on the corrosion-resisting properties of

pipe materials, the corrosiveness of soils, and the

effectiveness of materials offered for the protection

of pipes against soil action.

As is to be expected when investigators work independently and with little knowledge of what is beingdone by others, there appeared to be a needless duplication of work. Apparently conflicting results were

being obtained because of the use of different methods

of testing and different ways of expressing results. This confusion made it apparent that a comparison of

methods and results might lead to a better agreement

as to the behavior of materials under investigation.

In order to. afford an opportunity for such a comparison the National Bureau of Standards invited a number of students of underground corrosion problems to assemble at the bureau in December. 1928.

It was thought that the purpose of the conference

would be served best by limiting the attendance to those actually engaged in corrosion investigations,

and this was accomplished by issuing invitations on

condition that each one accepting would present a paper oy report describing some of the unpublished

results of his study of corrosion. This requirement

for participation in the conference tended to limit

the attendance to those who could offer constructive

criticism of the papers presented and to shut out those

who, although interested, could contribute little. The limitation promoted freer and more detailed

discussion and gave the participants more time for

asking questions and expressing their ideas. It minimized the tendency to present data from the sales-promotion point of view which is frequently manifested

at conventions and assured those attending that they

would receive in exchange for information imparted a manifold return of equally valuable information.

This method of presenting data puts a premium on

cooperation and promotes a feeling of fellowship

among the participants in the conference.

Thirty-one papers were presented at the first soil- corrosion conference. A number of these papers were

of a confidential nature or reported work which was in progress. About half of the papers were later published in some form.

Later experience showed that the conference was a decided stimulus and help to the study of underground

corrosion, and because of this a similar conference was

called for November, 1930, to be participated in by

organizations rather than by individuals. Twentythree organizations, in addition to the Bureau of

Chemistry and Soils of the Department of Agriculture, and the National Bureau of Standards, contributed 30 reports. The organizations represented

included 7 gas companies, 4 oil pipe-line companies, 4

pipe manufacturers, 3 manufacturers of protective

coatings, 4 research laboratories, and 3 national societies or trade associations. Geographically, these

organizations are distributed from the Atlantic to the

Pacific coast and from the Great Lakes to the Gulf,

with the intervening sections fairly well represented.

The conference may be regarded as a preliminary

step toward the establishment of standards for determining and expressing soil corrosion data. Satisfactory standards can be established only after a very

considerable body of data have been collected and a

fair agreement reached regarding the behavior of the

phenomena with which the standards are to deal. As

the report on the conference will show, sufficient data

are not available to justify setting up of standard

methods or units for measuring soil corrosion phe- nomena at this time, but the need for such standards

has become apparent, and there is a distinct tendency

toward basing purchases of pipe material and protective coatings on the results of tests of these materials.

In order to determine the value of a material with

respect to corrosion, it is, of course, essential to have

a recognized unit of corrosion and a way of measuring

corrosion in terms of this unit. Three units are in

common use and two ways of determining corrosion

are commonly used. Laboratory workers usually ex- pose metal to be tested to some corrosive influence and

determine the rate of loss of weight or in some in- stances the loss of strength. While loss of weight or strength may be important under some conditions,

they have little relation to the usefulness of pipes in

common use underground, since the pipes are usually

replaced because of leaks which are the result of

pitting.

It appears, therefore, that the rate of penetration

of pits is a more practical measure of pipe deterioration. Unfortunately, the rate of penetration of pits

is usually greater during the earlier part of the life of a pipe than later. This makes the determination

of the proper rate of penetration difficult. The problem is complicated further by the fact that the life of a pipe is not the time until it is punctured, but the

time until the punctures become too numerous to make

repairs by welding or the use of leak clamps advisable,

and this in turn depends on the location of the line,

the hazard due to leaks, and the policy of the pipe line

company.

Meager data available.

Data on the life of pipe are meager, and while it

is now generally recognized that the life of a pipe is determined largely by the character of the soil in

which it is buried, a large portion of the records of

pipe-line life give little information concerning soil conditions.

There are very few corrosion records that are at all satisfactory for determining the relative merits of

materials because there are few records showing the

performance of different materials under similar toil conditions.
200 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY JANUARY, 1931

Perhaps the most extensive data which are generally

available in which the several materials are exposed

to similar soil conditions are the results of the National

Bureau of Standards soil-corrosion investigation.

This study was undertaken to determine the effects of

soils on pipe rather than to compare materials, and

those in charge of the experiments feel that the precision of these data is insufficient to justify comparison

of materials at this time.

The question of interpretation of corrosion data is illustrated by three papers considered at the second

soil corrosion conference. Each paper presented a

different method of interpreting the same data. One

author maintained that the size of the test piece should

be taken into account in computing the rate of pitting

and that the thickness of the material should be con- sidered in determining its life. Another author

showed that for practical purposes all materials under

Testing and photographing specimens of pipe coatings

investigation behaved similarly. The third author, by

computing the probable errors of the data, showed

that the number of samples under investigation was

too small to permit a reasonably reliable conclusion to be reached regarding the relative merits of the materials. The chief value of these papers is probably

their demonstration of the need for a standard method

of testing and a standard wa}^ of interpreting cor- rosion data.

The second topic discussed at the conference was the

origin and significance of electrical currents on oil and

gas lines. It has been shown that many lines remote

from electric railways carry currents which apparently

have no relation to street or interurban railway operation. In some instances there appears to be a relation

between the places where current is discharged from

the line and the corrosion of the line. On other lines no relation between discharge of current and corrosion

is apparent. Under certain conditions it may be possible to make use of measurements of pipe line currents

to determine where lines need reconditioning, and thus

avoid much of the expense now involved in locating

corroded sections of oil and gas lines. The success of

the proposed method will depend in part on the selection of a suitable method of measuring pipe line currents. Reports from pipe-line operators indicate that seri- ous corrosion recurs on only a very small portion of

their lines. On this account and because of some

question as to the adequacy of the less expensive coat- ings offered for the protection of pipe lines there has

been a tendency in recent years for pipe-line owners

to lay pipe without protection with the expectation

of protecting certain sections later when the corrosion

data on the line became sufficient to indicate where

protective coatings were needed. Since the cost per

foot of protected line is much greater when the protection is applied after the line is laid, a simple method

for locating the sections of the right of way in which

serious corrosion might occur would be of great value

to pipe-line owners, and several methods of doing this

have been proposed and are being used to a limited

extent. Methods of determining the corrosiveness of soil was, perhaps, the most discussed topic considered at the conference. Nine papers on this subject were presented. These papers suggested seven distinct ways

of determining the corrosiveness of a soil, and data were presented showing that under some condition

each method was reasonably satisfactory for practical

purposes. The data presented also seem to indicate

that no one method is applicable to all soil conditions.

The development of these methods and the determination of the conditions under which they give reliable results depend largely on the availability of data defi- nitely establishing the rates of corrosion of metals in

at least a few typical soils. So far, corrosion records

of pipe lines have been used as a basis for estimating

soil corrosiveness, but this method is very inexact and

unsatisfactory because of the inadequacy of most

records.

It is difficult on this account to determine the value

of any of the proposed methods of testing soil corrosivity, but the simplicity of some of the methods

probably justifies their use under some conditions even though complete assurance of their accuracy is lacking.

Such data as are available as the result of an

examination of one long line for the purpose of determining the effectiveness of a corrosion survey indi- cate that the surveyors were correct in their estimate

of the corrosiveness of the soil in between 70 and 80

per cent of the cases where it was possible to determine

whether they were correct. It is believed that more

experience will produce even more accurate results. The study of soil corrosion naturally results in a study of methods for preventing corrosion. The

most obvious method is to keep the soil away from

the pipe. This has been attempted by coating the

pipe, usually with bituminous material, although

greases, sulphur, concrete, and other materials have

been used to some extent. There is a very decided

scarcity of information as to the performance of

protective coatings, because of lack of data concerning

the materials used, method and condition of application, need for pipe-line protection, and the significance

of the changes which the coatings have undergone.

In order that this condition shall not continue in- definitely, purchasers of coatings should secure from

the manufacturers such adequate descriptions of the

materials purchased as will enable them to identify

the materials when received. Those who apply coat-
JANUARY, 1931 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 201

ings should see that the application is made in ac- cordance with the specifications of the manufacturer

and should record the conditions under which the

application was made. Evidence as to the need of

pipe-line protection should also be recorded. There

is also need for recognized methods of determining

the condition of protective coating after it has been on a line for several years. The question as to when

a coating ceases to offer any protection is a live one. Because of the interest in pipe-line protection the

last half day of the soil-corrosion conference was

devoted to a discussion of protection problems. Nine

papers and reports were presented. Several new

methods of determining some of the physical properties of bituminous coating materials were proposed.

When additional experience with these methods has

been secured, some of them may become the bases of

recognized methods of determining the value of cer- tain kinds of coatings. It appears that at present

very little is known as to just what is required of a satisfactory coating.

Methods for determining the condition and useful- ness of a coating are also unsatisfactory. Standardization of methods of testing coatings must, therefore,

be postponed until more data are available. The con- ference was useful, however, in making the participants more familiar with the problems before them,

and in calling attention to methods which are worthy

of trial. It is hoped that in a few years another conference can be held for the purpose of considering

tentative standard methods of determining soil corrosivity and the performance of protective coatings.

SIMPLIFICATION BRIEFS

Hypodermic needles.—The printed pamphlet on simplified practice recommendation No. 108-29, covering

dental hypodermic needles, may be obtained from the

Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing

Office, Washington, D. C., for 5 cents each.

Abrasives.—The technical committee of the Producers of Electrical Furnace Abrasives, at its December

10 meeting, approved the report of the research associate for the abrasive industry on duty at the National

Bureau of Standards. The work performed by the

associate has been so satisfactory that the committee

decided to continue it for another three months.

the thicknesses from 34 to 8, with a maximum combination of 16 sizes instead of the present actual combination of 70 sizes.

Shot shells.—The suggested revision of simplified

practice recommendation for loaded paper shot shells has been mailed by the National Bureau of Standards

to the industry for written acceptances. Due to the

trend of demand, it was found necessary to effect some

eliminations, as well as additions, of several loads in

the various gages in the existing recommendation.

There was also added to all tables a column showing

definite lengths for unloaded shells. Prior to the

adoption of the original schedule, there were 4,076

varieties of loaded paper shot shells. In the present

schedule there are 343 varieties.

Dental piaster.—The necessary number of written

acceptances to simplified practice recommendation on

packaging of dental plaster, investments, and dental

stones having been received, the National Bureau of

Standards announces this schedule as in effect. The

industry, through this simplified schedule, has reduced

the number of sizes of plaster from 22 to 3, and

investments from 26 to 13.

Refractories.—The joint committee on foundry re- fractories of the American Ceramics Society is at work on the preparation of a questionnaire, to be sent

to all refractories manufacturers, to ascertain the

diversity existing in sizes and shapes of cupola linings,

with particular reference to tap hole and slag hole

blocks. The data will form the basis for drafting a

tentative simplified practice recommendation.

Kalsomine brushes.—The industry is being circularized for written approval to the simplified practice

recommendation, recently approved by a general conference, covering the block sizes for dutch, semidutch,

and baby dutch kalsomine brushes. This program

will reduce the number of widths from 47 to 10, and

Surgical diagnostic instruments.—On request of the

chairman of the standardization and simplification

committee of the American Surgical Trade Association, manufacturers of surgical diagnostic instruments have been asked to express their opinion on the

need for simplifying the shape of cord terminals used

with these instruments. Should replies indicate willingness on the part of producers to undertake this

program, the National Bureau of Standards, through

its division of simplified practice, will assist in developing a recommended practice to meet the requirements of all concerned.

Simplified practice in Australia.—Australia has

established as a part of the Standards Association of

Australia a division of simplified practice. That

organization has published a pamphlet in which it is shown that the procedure followed by the Australian

body has been patterned upon that followed in promoting the simplification movement in the United

States. The publication is closely similar in style

and arrangement to Simplified Practice, What It Is and What It Offers, issued by the division of simplified practice of the National Bureau of Standards.

30782—31 2
202 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY JANUARY, 1931 SAFETY MEASURES FOR OUTDOOR ANTENN/E

Antenna Supports Subjected to Vertical, Longitudinal, and Transverse Loads

By A. Halsted, National Bureau of Standards

The clanger of accidental contact with electrical

utility lines is probably the most serious hazard in

connection with outdoor antennses for radio receiving

stations. Other hazards are associated with the falling

of objects, due to failure of the antenna or its supports; and with lightning discharges over the antenna

wires. (Handbook No. 9 of the National Bureau of

Standards, entitled “ Safety Buies for Badio Installations,” includes rules for the strength and erection of

antennses. The following locations should be avoided in erect- ing antennses and guy wires to antennae supports

1 . Attachments to electric supply or communication

poles.

2. Crossings over or under electric supply or communication conductors.

3. Any location that brings an antenna or guy wire

at a higher level than supply or communication conductors, provided the breaking of the antenna or its supports will be likely to result in contact between

the antenna or guy wire and a supply or communication conductor.

If such locations are employed it must be recognized

that special hazards are introduced, and that great

care is necessary in the construction and maintenance

of antennae to avoid contact with the supply or communication conductors.

It is a mistake to regard 110-volt service leads as of

a harmlessly low voltage. If a person standing on

moist earth has hold of a bare antenna wire when it comes in contact with a worn or bare spot on the

service wires, he is very likely to be unable to free himself from the circuit, and unless prompt and effective

assistance is at hand he may be killed. Accordingly,

when antennae are constructed in situations mentioned

above as hazardous they must be of substantial

strength and reliability, and means for their safe

maintenance must be provided.

Antenna supports will be subjected to vertical loads

due to sleet and ice; to longitudinal loads due to the

pull in the loaded antenna wires; and to transverse

loads due to wind pressures on the wires and supports.

To insure against falling, especially when on roofs,

supports should be erected and guyed so that they are not dependent in any way on the antenna wire for

stabilitjr.

Brick chimneys are not designed to resist sustained

lateral forces such as might be imposed by the attachment of an antenna wire to them. Under such forces

bricks may become displaced, thereby opening cracks

that may result in setting fire to the building, or the

displaced bricks may fall and injure people pass- ing by.

When trees are used to support antennae, means of

compensating for swaying in the wind should be provided in order to keep the tension in the antenna wires

safely below their breaking strength. This may sometimes be accomplished by allowing an excess sag. Antennae should be high enough to provide safe

clearances above traffic. Above a traveled road they

should be at least 18 feet in height; along a rural

lane, 15 feet; above roadways to residence garages or above spaces accessible only to pedestrians, 10 feet. Spaces accessible only to pedestrians should be interpreted to include flat roofs where fire or other emergencies may require persons to move over them

hurriedly or in darkness.

To protect buildings or persons within buildings

from lightning or high voltages from contact with

electrical distribution conductors, each lead-in con- ductor from an outside antenna should be provided

with a lightning arrester. It is highly important to the efficacy of a lightning arrester to provide a ground

connection of low resistance. An underground sys- tem of water piping gives the best ground connection.

When such a system is not available, resort must be

had to some other metallic structure which is em- bedded in the earth or to pipes or rods driven down

to permanently moist soil.

It. should be emphasized that the protective grounding conductor should preferably be of a higher cur- rent-carrying capacity than the lead-in, and guarded

if in danger of mechanical damage. The reason for

guarding against mechanical damage and for recom- mending that the protective grounding conductor be

of a larger current-carrying capacity than the lead-in

is to insure that when needed it will be intact and

will not be fused by the current it is discharging.

Loss of the grounding conductor may leave the set with a high potential above ground and dangerous

to persons who might try to operate it in case of an

accidental cross with other wires.

QUALITY STANDARDS FOR EGGS

New York State Bureau Asks Dealers to Maintain High

Grades

To improve further the quality of eggs delivered to

retailers by wholesalers and jobbers, a letter has been

sent to dealers by the dairy and food bureau of the

New York State department of agriculture and markets asking their cooperation.

While there has been some improvement in the quality of eggs delivered to retailers in meeting the requirements of the standards and grades set up by the

State, it was pointed out by the director of the bureau,

Kenneth F. Fee, that a large share of the eggs sold

as grade A to retailers do not meet the standards es- tablished for that grade.

At a conference in the department recently the conclusion was reached that it is practicable to market

eggs on the basis of the grades established and that one of the difficulties was that distributors of eggs

have not revised their methods of handling in order

that there may be full compliance with the regulations.
JANUARY, 1931 COMMERCIAL STANDARLS MONTHLY 203

ACTIVITIES OF THE AMERICAN STANDARDS ASSOCIATION

A Monthly Report of Progress and Status of American Standards

The following current information relating to developments in certain standardization projects under

the auspices and procedure of the American Standards

Association has been furnished by that association :

Electrical definitions.

Tentative reports, which indicate that considerable

progress is being made in formulating a dictionary of

electrical terms, have been sent to the sectional committee on electrical definitions by subcommittees 1 and

4. These subcommittees are working, respectively, on fundamental and derived terms, and definitions cov- ering instruments and testing. Other subcommittees

have issued semifinal reports covering definite parts

of their assignments. These reports, it is expected,

will be available for distribution in printed form

within the next few months.

Pressure piping.

Copies of the revised draft of a proposed standard

on fabrication details are available for comment and

criticism. The proposed standard pertains to fabrication of hangers, supports, anchors, sway bracings, and

vibration dampeners.

Automatic stations.

A request of the American Institute of Electrical

Engineers for approval by the American Standards

Association of its standard 26, Automatic Stations,

has been referred to the electrical advisory committee

for its recommendation to the standards council. The

standard was approved by the American Institute of

Electrical Engineers in its original form in April,

1928, and the revised edition was approved on May 23. 1930. It is the revised edition which is now submitted

to the American Standards Association. The request

of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers is for approval of the standard as American standard

under the proprietary method.

Fiber stresses of wood poles.

The American Standards Association has approved

as American standard new values for the ultimate

fiber stresses of wood poles. The new values which

under the provisions of the National Electrical Safety

Code automatically replace the old figures of 6,500

pounds for dense j^ellow pine and 5,000 pounds for

other yellow pine, chestnut, and western red cedar

are as follows: Northern white cedar, 3,600 pounds

per square inch ; western red cedar, 5,600 pounds per

square inch; chestnut, 6,000 pounds per square inch;

and southern j^ellow pine (creosoted), 7,400 pounds

per square inch. The value for northern white cedar

is unchanged from the original figure.

The agreement among the members of the sectional

committee which included representatives of the tele- phone companies, the telegraph companies, the rail- ways, producers of poles, forestry, and forest products associations, the National Bureau of Standards,

the American Society for Testing Materials, the Canadian Department of Interior, the American Institute

of Electrical Engineers, as well as colleges of forestry,

marks an important step in standardization practice

in the United States. The new standard is the result

of an extensive study conducted by the sectional

committee.

Track bolts and nuts. A standard for track bolts and nuts has been approved by the American Standards Association as American Standard

The new standard is based on the study of the differ- ent types of track bolts used by the various railroads

and electric railways in the United States and Canada

and it is thought that the recommended dimensions

will cause little disturbance to existing practice. Particular attention has been given to the reduction of

the number of wrench openings needed. The wrench

openings are based on the American tentative standard

on wrench head bolts and nuts and wrench openings.

Tables giving dimensions of oval-neck track bolts,

elliptic-neck track bolts, and track-bolt nuts are given.

The elliptic-neck track bolts are mentioned as representing special types and sizes to be used during the

transition period. Special sizes in sixteenths of an

inch of oval-neck track bolts have also been added in the tables concerned for use during the transition

period. On new construction the sizes in eights of an inch should be used so that the standard sizes may

come into general use as quickly as possible. The special sizes are meant for replacement in existing splice

bars only.

During the development of the standard, tests were

carried out by the railroads and manufacturers of

track bolts on samples made to the dimensions of the

standard. These appeared to give satisfactory results

and the American Railway Engineering Association

consequently adopted the standard in May, 1930, as

its recommended practice. The vote of the American

Standards Association technical committee was unanimously in favor of the approval of the standard. The

standard was prepared by the sectional committee on

bolt, nut, and rivet proportions, under the sponsorship

of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and

the Society of Automotive Engineers.

Machine pins.

A proposal for a standard covering pins of the

cylindrical and taper types is now being circulated to industry for review and criticism. The proposal has

been developed by the sectional committee on standardization of machine pins as a result of a study of

foreign and domestic standards on the subject.

The draft proposal covers a diameter range of taper

pins from -jV to 1% inches and a length range of y2 to 12 inches. The committee has been able to reduce

the number of keys now stocked from 173 to 143 and

at the same time provides a suitable overlapping of

sizes. In developing the proposed standard, an effort has

been made to eliminate the several objectionable fea- tures in the present nonstandard systems without pass-
204 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY JANUARY, 1931

ing on to industry any unnecessary burden involvingreplacements, and interchangeability involving the

pins themselves and also drills and reamers. Althuogh some temporary inconvenience will be experienced by

perhaps a dozen taper-pin manufacturers by the in- crease in number of sizes of raw stock due to variation

in the larger diameters of the pins, it will mean, ac- cording to a statement accompanying the proposed

standard, a corresponding simplification in drill sizes for a great number of taper-pin users. The proposed standard retains the present taper of

one-fourth inch per foot of length and designates the

size of pin from the diameter of its smaller end, a

practice which has been adopted by the standardizing

bodies of several countries of Europe. The small

diameter of the pins is in the usual fractional dimensions, spaced by 30 seconds from A to ^ inch

diameter, by sixteenths to %-inch diameter, by eighths

to %-inch diameter, and by quarters to 1%-inch diameter. The number of diameters is reduced from 20 to 14 with a better spacing of sizes. The ends of the

pins have been rounded to facilitate driving, to lessen the possibility of cutting, to prevent deformation of

the side bearing surface, and to make it unnecessary

to drive the pins to such an exact location in their

places as pins with sharp, distinct edges.

Among the objectionable features eliminated or minimized are the following: The present arbitrary

numerical symbolization which has no direct mathematical relation to the actual size of the pin; the

irregular progression from one size of pin to another

;

adoption of large diameter as a basis for size designation.

In the general discussion accompanying the proposal it is also stated that another objectionable feature,

though not dealing with pins directly, is the lack of

coherent relationship between the pins and reamers. A study of the related dimensions of the pins and

reamers and, in particular, the overlap of a reamer beyond both ends of taper pins of maximum lengths

shows that present conditions leave much to be desired.

There is a lack of uniform progression between the

various sizes of reamers and in two cases the small

end of the reamer is larger than the small end of a pin of maximum length. Furthermore, an agreement

between various manufacturers is lacking.

The proposed American standard for cylindrical

pins is intended to cover the requirements of machine

pins as rod-end pins, picots, dowels, journals, idler

pins, locating pins, cam-roller pins, short axles, and

others, which are not standardized to any extent in

this country and generally speaking are not presented

as commercial articles. Each designer is required to design his own pins and each shop makes them

according to these designs.

The suggested series includes 94 sizes, which compares favorably with the variety adopted as standard

in Europe. The diameters and lengths of cylindrical

pins vary in much the same way as diameters and

lengths of taper pins, except that the maximum length

is given as 8 diameters instead of 12 diameters. The

use of well-defined proportions and commonly pre- ferred sizes for diameters and lengths permits the

expansion of the series for specific requirements at a

later date.

STANDARDIZATION BRIEFS

Surgical gut. —The American Hospital Association

has requested the cooperation of the National Bureau

of Standards in the establishment of a commercial

standard covering specifications for surgical gut.

These specifications, it is expected may cover sterility,

sizes, tensile strength, tolerances, and the rate of

absorbability.

Colored sanitary xoare. —A general conference to consider the adoption of six colors for colored sanitary ware as recommended by the Manufacturers

Advisory Committee for this type of ware, will be

held at 10 a. m., Friday, January 23, 1931, at the

National Bureau of Standards, Washington, D. C. Manufacturers, distributors, and users of this type

of ware are invited to be present in order that the

standard colors as finally adopted shall be acceptable

to all interests.

Copying and record. —The revised specifications for

copying and record : Writing, red, stamp pad, and

indelible marking inks, and for typewriter, hectograph, computing, and recording machine ribbons are now ready to be submitted to the Federal Specifications Board for promulgation. The revisions contain no changes in the technical details.

Detergents. —The National Bureau of Standards is cooperating with the detergents committee of the

American Oil Chemists’ Society in the study of practical or washing tests, with a view to formulating a

practical or performance test to measure the cleansingpower or value of detergents. This work is still in

the experimental stage.

"Weights and measures. —State weights and measures

conferences are held periodically in different sections

of the United States. These meetings serve to keep

the local weights and measures officials advised of the

latest developments along the lines of their official duties and provide an important medium for promoting uniformity of procedure among the several

jurisdictions. For example, a meeting was held in

Pennsylvania during September, Massachusetts and

Maine in October, and Ohio in December.

Alloys. —An investigation was made to find alloys

suitable for the production of heat-treated castings

capable of withstanding severe service. The machinability of aluminum-copper alloy was found to be

somewhat better than that of the aluminum-silicon1

magnesium alloys, although the latter can be com-
JANUARY, 1931 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 205

mercially machined with standard tool set-ups, and,

with adaptation of tools and machining methods to

suit the material, can perhaps be machined as well as the aluminum-copper alloy.

Viscometer. —In order to increase the accuracy in

measuring viscosity by the Saybolt viscometer, which

is the standard for lubricating oils, the National

Bureau of Standards will examine Saybolt tubes. If

they are of standard dimensions, and the viscosity

readings are within 2 per cent of standard, certificates are issued giving corrections which must be applied

to make readings agree with those of the bureau’s

master tube. The number of certificates issued for

Saybolt tubes has increased from 53 in 1927 to 101

in 1929.

Magnetic permeameters.-—The testing of magnetic

permeameters (instrument for measuring magnetic

permeability) is greatly facilitated by calibrated test specimens used as standards. In order to be suitable

for use as magnetic standards, test specimens must

conform to certain requirements; the most important

of which is magnetic uniformity along their length.

The Burrows permeameter was adopted as the standard method for calibration; it shows the effect of

nonuniformity in the specimens, and gives the characteristics of four bars which have been found to be

sufficiently uniform to warrant their use as magnetic

standards.

Airplane tires.-—-Extensive investigations have re- cently been carried out in the wind tunnel of the New

York University to obtain data on the drag characteristics of several types of airplane tires in an en- deavor to aid in the development of a line of airplane

tires of low specific air resistance. It was found that

the parasitic drag of the low-pressure airplane tires tested was not appreciably greater than that of the

high-pressure airplane tires in the same load-carrying

class. These tests indicate that accurate airplane per- formance calculations can not be made if an average

drag coefficient is used for all sizes and types of

airplane tires.

Laboratomj for physical standards. —The establishment of a laboratory for physical standards in New

Zealand is now under way. It is proposed to provide

standards and equipment for measurements of engineers’ gages, electrical apparatus, and measuring instruments of various kinds, also for the checking of

thermometers and pyrometers, and for the measure- ment of the candlepower and efficiency of lamps. At

the present Jime, according to the annual report of the

Department of Scientific and Industrial Research of

New Zealand, there are no official electrical standards

or standards of temperature or of candlepower in the

STANDARD PAPER GRADES URGED BY

UNITED TYPOTHETiE

The forty-fourth annual convention of the United

Typothetse of America, held in Boston on October 17,

adopted a resolution urging the continuance of eff orts with regard to the standardization of paper, as follows

Whereas the standardization committee of the United

Typothetse of America has expended much effort to accomDominion, and it is expected that the new laboratory

will fulfill what has now become an urgent demand.

Insulated safes. —Federal specification No. 60a for

insulated safes has been proposed by the Federal

Specifications Board committee on insulated safes, and

is being submitted to producers and users of the product for comment. The main change involves placing

the requirements relating to construction on a per- formance basis instead of specifying minimum size of

structural members. The requirements are based, in part, on a series of loading tests of safes recently completed at the National Bureau of Standards. The

specification retains the present performance requirements for fire resistance and fire and impact resistance,

except that the temperature limits within the safe are based on a maximum permissible rise above the initial temperature instead of a fixed maximum temperature.

Electroplating.-—During the past several years the

American Electroplaters Society has maintained a research associate at the National Bureau of Standards to study electroplating problems. About a year

ago it was decided to investigate the protective value

of plated coatings, especially of chromium. Arrangements were then made to conduct exposure tests of

plated metals in cooperation with the American Society for Testing Materials. Owing to the resignation

of the research associate, this program was postponed.

A new associate, P. W. C. Strausser, has just been appointed by the electroplaters’ society. In the near fu- ture a conference will be held to decide upon the details for carrying out the exposure tests. It is hoped

that the results of such tests will be useful in formulating specifications for electroplated coatings for

definite types of service.

Propeller. —Tests were conducted recently by the

National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics to determine how the characteristics of a propeller are af- fected by cutting off the tips. The diameter of a standard 10-foot metal propeller was changed, successively, to 9 feet 6 inches, 9 feet, 8 feet 6 inches, and 8 feet. Each propeller thus formed was tested at four pitch

settings in the propeller research tunnel of the committee, using an open-cockpit fuselage and a D-12

engine. Changes of 20 per cent in the diameter of a 10-foot propeller due to cutting off the tips result in a loss of about 6 per cent in maximum propulsive

efficienc}' at the same pitch setting. A propeller

adapted to a given engine and airplane by cutting off the tips will be slightly less efficient than a specially

designed propeller. The practice of cutting off propellers is justified by these tests. (Detailed results

of these tests are given in the National Advisory

I Committee for Aeronautics Report No. 351.)

plish tlie standardization of paper grades used in the printing

and publishing industry : Therefore be it Resolved, That the standardization committee of the United

Typothetse of America is hereby directed to continue its efforts respecting the standardization of paper grades used in the

printing and publishing industry ; and be it further Resolved, That consideration be given to the subject of the standardization of paper samples to the end that the

existing numerous sizes and shapes of such material be

eliminated.
206 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY JANUARY. 1931 STEEL REINFORCING BARS AND STEEL SPIRAL RODS

Results and Benefits of Applying Simplified Practice

By James F. McNeil, National Bureau of Standards

Steel reinforcing bars and spiral rods embedded in concrete have made possible many of our modern

engineering achievements, principally because of

their adaptability to a variety of purposes in the

construction of buildings, bridges, dams, and roads.

In the middle of the last century when reinforced

concrete was first put to practical use, many of the

systems of reinforcing were patented by their originators. To-day, however, formulas 11611011 follow the

laws of mechanics may be applied to all. As the demand for these materials became greater,

so also did the number of sizes, types, and varieties

increase, until in the year 1917 dealers in steel reinforcing bars carried a minimum of 15 sizes in two

grades of steel. During the World War this number

was reduced considerably by the industry acting in

cooperation with the War Industries Board.

When the restrictions and limitations caused by

the war were lifted, many of the sizes formerly used were reinstated, and several new sizes came into

existence. A third grade of bars also made its appear- ance at this time. It was not uncommon to find a

single plan requiring as many as 18 different sizes of

bars.

This diversification in sizes, types, and varieties was burdensome to all interests and the cause of much

confusion to the industry. In an effort to curb the

waste prevalent in this field, a general conference of

representatives of the industry was held under the

auspices of the division of simplified practice at Washington, D. C., on September 9, 1921, to discuss a ten- tative simplified practice recommendation for reinforcing bars. The simplification program adopted by the confer- ence was subsequently accepted by the industry, and

made effective January 1, 1925. It reduced the number

of cross-sectional areas of reinforcing bars from 32

to 11, or approximately 65 per cent. Since its approval, this simplification has been reA

T iewed by the standing committee of the industry on

three occasions. In the years 1927 and 1928, it was

reaffirmed, and in 1930 it was so revised as to express

the cross-sectional areas in two decimal places instead

of three. A survey of production, conducted in 1928, revealed

that approximately 96 per cent of the steel reinforcing

bars were being made in accordance with the simplified practice recommendation.

Steel spiral rods.

In view of the successful simplification of steel re- inforcing bars, metal lath, woven-wire fencing, sheet

steel, and other items in this and other fields, a general

conference of all interests was held, at the instance

of the industry on January 26, 1926, to consider the

simplification of steel spiral rods. The recommendation adopted at this conference was instrumental in

reducing the number of sizes of this product from

7 to 4, or about 43 per cent. JjLhas been effective since

December 15, 1926.

Results.

A survey among the accepters, was conducted by the

division, to determine the practical effect of these simplifications. Interesting quotations from replies based on their personal experience show that much benefit

is accruing to members of the industry through the

application of these recommendations.

One leader in this industry after the recommendation had been in effect but a short time stated that

“ the reduction of the number of sizes means a saving

in capital investment of about $4,500,000 for the

industry.”

“ The economies that have been effected are readily

computed in savings in inventory, interest charges,

saving in space, and overhead charges which are not

easily estimated, and would in our case amount to $10,000 to $12,000 a year,” wrote the president of a midwestern manufacturing plant.

“ It necessitates our carrying less sizes in stock,

which naturally saves a great deal of time and expense

in storing and saves us considerable expense in changing rolls on account of rolling fewer sizes. It also saves us clerical work and increases turnover,” stated

another manufacturer.

“ Savings are being made,” said the secretary of a plant manufacturing spirals, “ because less engineering and clerical work is required, inventories are

smaller, yet stocks are less frequently exhausted.

There is also a saving in equipment. All of these

things will effect a $1,500 yearly saving to our com- pany on its average annual sales and we believe the consumer saves at least as much.”

“ Being distributors, we find that simplified practice reduces very materially the capital investment

also the cost of warehousing, storage, and handlingexpenses, especially clerical,” wrote the president of a

builders’ supply house located in the South.

“ Simplification from the distributors point of view,”

replied another, “ reduces the capital invested considerably, due to the fact that we can concentrate on a smaller number of items, and I believe we are saving

fully 33 per cent in the investment of our steel stock

inventory. Likewise it reduces warehouse and storage

space requirements.” He further stated, “ It increases

turnover on account of our being able to handle the same tonnage with considerable smaller inventory.”

The head of another supply house said* “ we have

been able to reduce our invested capital and inventory

approximately 50 per cent, which aggregates $30,000

to $40,000. It reduces our storage space requirements

approximately 50 per cent. The writer is of the opinion that our company is serving every possible need

required by the consumer and is better off b}i approximately $3,000 per year as against the time we handled

such a large variety of sizes.” A consumer of reinforcing bars and spiral rods

replied, “ it is our opinion that we should, and un- doubtedly do, benefit by simplified practice in these

two lines, and that ultimately it will certainly result in better value for the mone}? and prompter delivery.”
JANUARY, 1931 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 207

STANDARDS AS A BASIS FOR REPORTING NEWS ON FARM PRODUCTS

Standardized Nomenclature Facilitates Classification of Farm Products

By C. E. Gibbons, Senior Marketing Specialist, Bureau of Agricultural Economics, Department of Agriculture

The Federal market reporter, more than anyone

else, is indebted to standardization for the success of

his enterprise. Conducting a national, and in some

instances a world-wide service, he must gather facts

from many sources ; correlate and analyze those facts

and redistribute them to a clientele which circles the

globe. To do this effectively he must have at his dis- posal a standarized nomenclature, and this is possible

only after definite, fixed standards have been worked

out for each of the many units or groups into which

the commodity with which he deals is sorted or classi- fied in the regular process of marketing.

Assume, for example, that we are considering a Federal livestock market reporter. His task, among other

things, is to discover as accurately as possible and

report upon past, present, and prospective supplies

of livestock; also on demand, prices, and general trade

conditions. Obviously he can not report on the live- stock market as a whole because that is made up of

many kinds, classes, ages, weights, and grades of animals, and usually each of these groups has a market

all its own. Cattle may be scarce and hogs in liberal

supply. The demand for sheep may be slow, whereas

lambs are wanted badly. The price of vealers may

be advancing sharply while that of calves remains

stationary.

One cattleman has one hundred 6-month-old calves on the range and another has a lot of cows. A cer- tain feeder has a load of yearling heifers in the feed

lot while his neighbor has 2-year-old steers. One

swine grower has a lot of choice-grade hogs and an- other has feeder pigs. Each of these men is watching

the markets e 1 osely in an effort to dispose of his

animals at a time when prices are highest and on the

market which offers the greatest net profit. The

market reporter must furnish to each of these stockmen the information on which he can base decisions.

Hence, he must go into details describing prevailing

market conditions as they affect each of the important

groups of livestock.

In doing this he uses many group names. He

speaks of steers and cows, lambs and ewes, butcher

hogs, and packing sows. He refers to lightweight,

mediumweight, and heavyweight animals; and finally

his report is shot through with references to primegrade, choice-grade, medium-grade, and cull-grade

animals. These group names are extremely useful to the market reporter because they relieve him of the

necessity of long and detailed descriptions of the

different animals on which he is reporting.

For example, by using the single word “ steer ” he

indicates a definite group of bovine animals, and immediately eliminates all other classes of cattle, such

as heifers, cows, bulls, and stags. By using the word

“yearling” he sets age limits on the cattle he is dis- cussing. “ Medium weight ” confines the animals being

reported upon within fairly narrow weight limits. Finally, by referring to choice grade he immediately

depicts the degrees of conformation, finish, and quality

possessed by the animals to which his report refers.

Hence, by means of four group names—choice grade,

medium weight, yearling, and slaughter steers—he

draws a picture more detailed and more sharply defined than would be possible by using many pages of

description.

All this is possible, however, only when each of the

group names used possesses a standardized meaning.

Each term must bear the same significance, regardless

of market, season of the year, changes in supply, demand, price, or general trade conditions. In other

words, there must be a definite, fixed standard for each

group. It is impossible to conduct a satisfactory national market news service on any agricultural com- modity without such standards.

For that reason, the Department of Agriculture,

through the Bureau of Agricultural Economics, has

expended much time and effort during the past few

years in developing such standards. The task was of

great magnitude due to the great number and diversity

of agricultural products and the many methods of

marketing and wide differences in market practices

prevailing in various parts of the country. The wider

the market for a commodity the greater is the need

for fixed standards. Likewise, the market for almost

any product can be broadened by the application of

the principles of standardization in its production and

marketing.

One of the greatest benefits and most outstanding

economies which accrue from standards is the elimination of the necessity for personal inspection. A

product which has only a limited local market may be

merchandised fairly well without uniform standards

because personal inspection is easily had and each in- dividual buyer and seller can apply his own standards without serious interference with the marketing

process. So soon, however, as buyers and sellers be- come widely separated, personal inspection becomes

burdensome, expensive, and frequently impossible.

It is here that fixed, generally understood standards

prove their worth. A man in Buffalo, New York, or Liverpool can buy a carload of No. 2 red winter wheat

from a Kansas grower with every assurance that he

will get exactly the kind of wheat he needs. The

Kansas grower can offer his wheat to any prospective

buyer in the world with entire confidence and assurance. This is possible only because definite standards

for that variety and grade of wheat have been worked

out, specifications drawn, and a system of applying

the standards developed. The same is true of cotton,

hay, many fruits, and vegetables, also several kinds

and classes of livestock and meat.

A brief outline of the establishment of the department’s market news service on livestock and meats

may serve to illustrate conditions prevailing generally

in the markets for agricultural products prior to the

establishment of Federal standards and improvements

which have followed and are following the use of such

standards. The wholesale fresh meat markets were

reported first, with offices in several of the large At-
208 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY JANUARY, 1931

lantic seaboard cities. A tentative schedule of classes and grades had been worked out for the use of all reporters and standardized forms for submitting re- ports developed. It was soon discovered, however,

that wide differences in prices apparently prevailed

between the different cities. Boston, for example,

might be quoting choice grade steer beef at $22 per

100 pounds and New York quoting the same grade at $18, with Washington offering the same thing at $16.

Obviously, freight differentials could not account for

such wide disparity in prices.

Investigation quickly showed that no such differ- ences in prices actually existed, and that the wide

spread in quotations was due to the fact that the

trade in Boston, New York, and Washington did not

mean the same thing when they referred to choice

grade steer beef, for example. It was also obvious

under such circumstances the reports would be useless to anyone desiring to compare prices prevailing on

the different markets, either with a view to buying

or selling beef on those markets. It immediately be- came necessary, therefore, for the department to work

out definite standards for choice grade steer beef and

for all the other classes and grades as well, and require

all Federal reporters to report their markets on the

basis of those standards.

Shortly afterwards a survey of the midwestern live- stock markets was made preparatory to establishing a Federal market reporting service on live animals.

A wholly similar situation was found there. What

was considered a choice grade slaughter steer on one market might not grade higher than good at another

and possibly medium on a third market. Even on

the same market, standards were shifted from season

to season in keeping with changes in supply and

demand conditions. When supplies of a given class or grade of animals were light and demand active,

there was a perceptible lowering of standards. When

supplies increased, accompanied frequently by a decrease in demand, requirements were almost inevitably raised, and it took a much better animal to get

into a certain grade than it did during a period of

scarcity.

Here again it was impossible for the department

to establish or maintain a national reporting service on the basis of a multiplicity of widely divergent local standards. Hence, a single set of standards was

developed and applied at all markets. In certain

quarters there was some resistance to changing the

established order of things, but the advantage of having “ choice grade slaughter steer ” refer to the same

kind of an animal at Portland, Oreg. ; Denver, Colo.

;

Chicago, 111.; and New York, N. Y., soon became

apparent to the more forward-looking members of the

trade, and at the present time the Federal standards

are pretty generally accepted and used.

The superiority of the Federal market news service over similar services maintained by other agencies

consists largely in the fact that it is based on, and

involves the use of, definite uniform standards.

Under such circumstances it is possible for each market reporter to describe clearly, accurately, and suc- cinctly just the kind, class, age, weight, and grade of

animals offered on his market and the demand and

prices prevailing for each. It is also possible for a reader anywhere in the country, be he producer, processor, consumer, or student, to read the Federal re- ports from any or all markets and make definite and

accurate comparisons between conditions prevailing at as many markets as he is interested in. The statistics compiled as an integral part of the

Federal market news service are comparable at all times, not only between markets but from season to season and year to year, because they are based on the same standards. When the standards become a little better known and more generally understood it will

be possible to buy and sell both livestock and meats on the basis of standard specifications just as is now

done in the case of corn, cotton, and many other agricultural products for which there are official standards.

COTTON FABRIC TENTS, TARPAULINS, AND COVERS

Standardized Markings and Description of Waterproof Treated and Untreated Commodities Approved by

General Conference

To standardize the markings and descriptions of

waterproof treated and untreated cotton fabric tents, tarpaulins and covers, a general conference of interested representatives of cotton mills, waterproofers,

manufacturers, distributors, and users held December

12, 1930, at the National Bureau of Standards, Washington, D. C., approved a proposed commercial standard covering these commodities.

In order that present manufactured stocks may be

cleared without prejudice, the conference stipulated

that the date on which the recommendation will be- come effective shall be January 1, 1932, and that all goods sold after that time will be marked on the new

basis. The standard, as approved by the conference, re- quires that waterproof treated and untreated cotton

fabric tents, tarpaulins, and^covers shall be marked

with a printed tag or stencil to show the original grey

goods weight on a square yard basis. Such ounce weight designation on the fabric shall be carried to the nearest one-hundredth of an ounce. In addition

to the grey goods weight, waterproof treated and untreated cotton fabric tents, tarpaulins, and covers shall be marked to show the commercial type of fabric, as

“ single-filling duck,” “ double-filling duck,” “Army

duck,” “ numbered duck,” “ sheeting,” “ Osnaburg,”

and any other fabric that may be used. It is recom- mended that no marking or sales descriptions be used

referring to the finished or loaded weight of waterproof-treated materials.

The elimination of markings to indicate the finished or loaded weight of waterproof-treated tents, tarpaulins, and covers is a very radical and distinct departure

from the present practice of emphasizing the loaded

or treated weight almost to the exclusion of all other
JANUARY, 1931 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 209

markings or descriptions. However, the waterproofers and the tent manufacturers feel that since

the treated or loaded weight is always greater than

the unfinished weight, the ultimate buyer would continue to be unduly influenced in his purchases by any

mention of the treated weight even though the untreated weight be given also. In other words, the

producers feel that unless the former practice of indicating treated weights is eliminated altogether and

replaced by the practice of marking tents, tarpaulins,

and covers to show only the weight of the untreated

fabric in ounces per square yard, the desired benefits

to the consumer will not be obtained.

The conference indorsed a proposal for the application of the certification plan. By this means there

is provided a medium for developing lists of manufacturers willing to certify that their product con- forms to the approved commercial standard. These

lists will be distributed by the National Bureau of

Standards to public purchasers and, upon request, to other interested purchasers.

As provided by the regular procedure of the bureau, the standard will be reviewed annually for any

changes or modifications that may be necessary to

keep it abreast of changing trends in the industry. To

facilitate this review, the conference authorized the

appointment of a standing committee to consist of

J. E. Dilg, representing the National Tent and Awning

Manufacturers Association, chairman of the committee; H. B. McCain, president of the Canvas Waterproofer’s Association, and the Brunsene Co.; J. W.

Proctor, of Wellington Sears & Co.; C. J. Stind, of

Sears, Roebuck & Co.; N. C. Wiley, of the Bureau of

Construction and Repair, Navy Department; H. S. Johnson, of the Cotton-Textile Institute; H. B. Marbury, of the Fulton Bag & Cotton Mills; W. E. Russell, of the Capitol Awning Co. ; and Charles C. Carver, of C. F. Earechson & Co.

It was brought out during the conference that the

Canvas Waterproofer’s Association had received more

than 500 letters from the industry indorsing the commercial standard.

In line with the established procedure of the National Bureau of Standards, the recommendation will

now be submitted to the entire industry for written

acceptance. As a prerequisite to publication, written

acceptances must represent at least 65 per cent of

production by volume and without active opposition.

SIMPLIFIED LIST OF SIZES OF ICE CREAM CUPS APPROVED

Recommendation Approved by General Conference also Provides for the Cap Diameter; Effective

January 1, 1932

Recognizing the fact that there is a definite trend

toward packaged ice cream, a general conference at the Department of Commerce of interested groups of

the industry on December 10, 1930, approved a proposed simplified practice recommendation for sizes and

shapes of ice cream cups and caps. The approved recommendation provides for the

intermediate shape container for the quart size with

a cap diameter of 4.372 inches; the intermediate shape

with cap diameter of 3.622 inches, and the tub shape

with cap diameter of 4.372 inches for the pint size container; the intermediate shape with cap diameter

of 3.280 inches and the tub shape with cap diameter of

3.654 inches for the one-half pint size container; that

the present shaped cup with cap diameter of 2.750

be retained for the one-fourth pint size container

(known to the trade as the 10-cent size) ; and the 48

to the gallon cup with cap diameter of 2.380 for the

one-sixth of a pint size cup (known to the trade as the

5-cent cup.) There is provided for all cap diameters

a tolerance, above or below, of 0.004 inch.

Several months ago the industry adopted simplified

practice recommendations covering ice cream cans, molds, and cartons. The success of these projects led

the simplified practice committee of the International

Association of Ice Cream Manufacturers to study

conditions existing in the industry with respect to the

variety of cups being used for packaged ice cream.

It was brought out in the conference of December

10 that approximately 15 per cent of the volume of

ice cream is now handled in these containers, with a certain tendency toward their increased use. Recently

the Boston University Bureau of Business Research

made a survey of the customer’s preference for fac30782—31 3

tory packaged ice cream as against that of the ice cream sold packed by the retailer. The findings of

this survey showed that the next important advance

in the trade will be the introduction of factory-filled

packages of approximately the same consistency,

flavor, and taste as the present store-packed package.

This is in line with modern merchandising methods.

Factory-filled containers are more convenient and eco- nomical to handle, are more sanitary, and usually contain a more uniform quantity, in a convenient form of

container for home service.

The adoption of this recommendation is entirely

voluntary on the part of manufacturers, distributors,

and users. It is to be noted, however, that the success of this program is dependent upon the wholehearted

support and acceptance of the industry. The provisions of the program will become effective January 1, 1932, and eight months, or until September 1, 1932, is allowed for the disposal of nonstandard stock. Appreciating the fact that changes will develop in

the industry over a period of time, the conference

authorized the appointment of a standing committee

to keep the recommendation in line with the best

thought and practice of the industry. This committee

will receive recommendations or suggestions for

changes in the schedule and will be acted upon at the

regular annual revision conference of the committee.

All changes which may be recommended by the standing committee will be submitted to the industry for

approval as in the case of the initial recommendation.

Ridgway Kennedy, jr., chairman of the simplified

practice committee of the International Association of

Ice Cream Manufacturers, was selected as chairman

of this standing committee. The other members will

be announced at an early date.
210 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY ‘ JANUARY, 1931 SIMPLIFICATION PROJECT ACTIVE IN LUMBER INDUSTRY

New Appointments Made to Central Committee on Lumber Standards; Revision of 7,000 Series of

Moldings Proposed

Secretary of Commerce, Robert P. Lamont, has

announced the appointment of Roy F. Morse and L. P. Lewin to active membership on the Central Committee on Lumber Standards (S. P. R. No. 16). Mr.

Morse will take the place vacated through the resignation of Ray E. Danaher, and will serve on the

committee as representative of softwood lumber

manufacturers. Mr. Lewin will fill the vacancy caused

by the resignation of Guy Gray, and will represent

the city retail lumber dealer.

Both of these appointees are well qualified by many

years of experience in lumber manufacture and distri- bution to become thus associated with the other members of the committee in carrying forward the work

of lumber simplification and standardization started more than eight years ago by the organized lumber

industry with the cooperation of the division of

simplified practice of the National Bureau of Standards. Mr. Morse is general manager of the manufacturing department, Longview Division, Long-Bell

Lumber Co., of Longview, Wash., and Mr. Lewin is past president of the National Retail Lumber Dealers

Association and a director of that organization at the present time, as well as being president of the

A. M. Lewin Lumber Co. 5 Cincinnati, Ohio.

These two appointments by the Secretary of Commerce again bring the central committee up to its full complement of 11 representatives of lumber manufacturers, distributors, consumers, and technical or- ganizations. The other members of the committee

and the organizations they represent are as follows

John H. Kirby, Kirby Lumber Co., Houston. Tex.,

chairman of the committee; W. E. Hawley, Duluth,

Missabe & Northern Ry. Co., Duluth Minn.; W. M.

Ritter, Columbus, Ohio; LeRoy E. Kern, the American Institute of Architects, Washington, D. C. ; F. S. Underhill, Philadelphia, Pa. ; George D. Rose, Spahn

& Rose Lumber Co., Dubuque, Iowa; Charles T.

Fisher, Fisher Body Corporation, Detroit, Mich.; W.

B. Swift, International Harvester Co., Chicago, 111.; and E. J. Curtis, Curtis Companies (Inc.), Clinton,

Iowa.

Advisory to the central committee are the consulting

committee on lumber standards in the standardization

of softwoods ; the hardwood consulting committee

and the division of simplified practice of the National

Bureau of Standards; and the Forest Products

Laboratory of the Department of Agriculture.

According to the announcement of the central committee there are a number of active standardization

projects before the committee. One is the revision

of the present 7,000 series of moldings, authorized by

the joint meeting of the various committees mentioned

in the preceeding paragraph, held in April, 1930, to bring their widths and designs into conformity with

the American standard dressed widths for kiln dried

finish, with sound lumber manufacturing practice,

and with good architectural design.

The subcommittee representing lumber manufacturers associations interested in molding production,

millwork manufacturers, and the American Institute

of Architects, has practically completed its work of

redesign and width adjustments and the new designs

will soon be formally submitted by the central committee to the entire lumber industry for approval and

publication.

EFFICIENT WOOD UTILIZATION PROMOTED BY PANAMA CANAL

United States’ Specifications and Practices of Wood Utilization Adopted for Canal Zone

The establishment of a committee of officials of the

Panama Canal Zone for the purpose of studying effi- cient wood-using practices and their application to canal requirements has been announced by Col. Harry

Burgess, United States Army, Governor of the Panama Canal.

The Canal Zone is one of the largest purchasers of

American forest products, and is interested in promoting efficient practices and economies in the purchase of forest products.

One of the principal objects of the newly established committee will be to keep in close touch with

the National Committee on Wood Utilization, which

acts as a clearing house for the latest developments

and discoveries in the wood utilization field. Among

the principal features given favorable consideration by

this liaison committee are : The changing of lumber

specifications to conform as closely as practicable to the commercial practice in the United States; the

purchase of railway ties in accordance with the re- quirements of the American Standards Association

;

and the purchase of grade-marked lumber, that is, lumber marked with a symbol indicating the quality

of each piece produced so as to facilitate inspection

and storing.

Emphasis is laid on the inspection of lumber in the

United States before shipment is made in order to minimize the shipper’s losses in connection with re- jected stock. Such inspection, the committee feels,

may be arranged through the cooperation of reputable

lumber associations.

End-matched lumber, which is stock provided with

a groove at one end and a tongue at the other, enabling

the use of lumber practically without waste, is also being considered for certain requirements, and comparison of installation costs will be made between

standard flooring and end-matched lumber used as

ceiling.
JANUARY, 1931 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 211

The committee makes recommendations involving

trial of certain new wood construction methods to canal conditions. At present these methods are being

investigated by the National Committee on Wood

Utilization, and chiefly relate to the extensive application of steel joints, and the protection of wood

against fire, insects, and decay, through preservative

treatments. u

If the canal is to derive full benefit in the matter

of specifications and best practices prevailing in the

United States, that is, in so far as they can be adapted

to the Canal Zone,” said Colonel Burgess in his an- nouncement, “ it will be highly desirable that we avail

ourselves of the services of the National Committee

on Wood Utilization in matters pertaining to the

purchase and use of lumber and wood products in the

zone.” Conditions in the Canal Zone are entirely different

from those applying to the home market. Canal engi- neers have shown marked ingenuity in overcoming the

natural disadvantages to which their use of wood is subjected under tropical conditions, and engineers and

builders in every part of the world where similar

climatic conditions prevail are following with interest

these new developments in canal wood-using practices.

Eventually this experience will have an important

bearing on the further development of the United

States export lumber trade.

PROGRESS ON AMERICAN MARINE STANDARDS

Committee Reviews Status of Pending Proposals for Standardization

The following current information relating to developments in certain standardization projects under

the auspices and procedure of the American Marine

Standards Committee, has been furnished by that

committee.

Oil-tight hatch covers. A revised preliminary draft of alternative designs

comprising structural details and fittings for welded

and nonwelded construction, also tentative standard

sizes for this type of hatch, are under consideration by

the technical committee on hull details. Hinges for ship doors.

General specifications comprising five types of

bronze hinges and six types of steel hinges for various

applications have been developed for joint action of

the technical committee on hull details and the subject

committee on joiner hardware. The types include

both plain and ball bearing hinges in limited varieties

of sizes. The specifications are appended by recom- mended rules for correct application of hinges.

Hinged water-tight doors.

It appearing that the ballot vote of the technical

committee on hull details on the proposed standards

mentioned in previous issues of the Commercial

Standard Monthly will not be conclusive, a series of

sketches showing different types of construction and

fittings have been submitted to the committee for a

selective vote in order to establish a definite basis for

further development.

Condenser tube ferrules and tube sheets.

A proposed revised edition to supersede American

Marine Standard E No. 1-1926, published in American Marine Standards Committee 21, has been

developed on the basis of suggestions received from

various sources and is now before the technical committee on engineering details. The proposed new

ferrules are interchangeable with those covered by the

former standard, the principal change being a decrease in length of ferrule from seven-eighths to three-fourths inch. The revised standard has also been amplified in a number of particulars.

Cleats for ships and docks.

A new series of proposed standards is in course of

development for submittal to the technical committees on hull details and on port facilities. Although based

generally upon the proposals heretofore submitted to the technical committees and membership, suggestions

received from various sources are being incorporated

as far as they can be correlated. One of the aims is to unify the design of heavy cleats for both ships and

docks.

Index to American Marine Standards Committee

publications.

Manuscript for serial and classified lists of the

standards promulgated to date and classified and

alphabetical indexes thereto covering the American

Marine Standards Committee series of publications

from 1 to 75 has been prepared for printing.

REVISED COMMERCIAL STANDARD FOR

WROUGHT-IRON PIPE NIPPLES BEFORE

INDUSTRY FOR ACCEPTANCE

In accordance with the recommendations of the

standing committee, following consideration of com- ment and criticism from manufacturers of this commodity, through an adherence survey, a proposed

revision of the Commercial Standard for WroughtIron Pipe Nipples, CS6-29, has been circulated for

acceptance.

The proposed changes were recommended to bring

the commercial standard into harmony with the recent

revision of the American Society for Testing Materials

Specification, A72-27, Welded Wrought-iron Pipe.

The recommended revision comprises the inclusion

of the A. S. T. M. definition for wrought-iron, refer- ence to the latest A. S. T. M. specification for wroughtiron pipe, changes in actual thickness and inside diameters of the pipe to suit actual weight specified, and a few minor changes in wording and arrangement.
212 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY JANUARY, 1931 ADVANCEMENT NOTED IN AERONAUTICS RESEARCH

Studies Conducted at National Bureau of Standards for Improvement in Radio Services for Aircraft

Preliminary work has been started by the National

Bureau of Standards on the development of a radio

system to aid in preventing collisions between air- planes. The aim is to give the pilot on an airplane

automatic warning of the presence and approximate

position of any other craft within a radius of about

3 miles.

A fundamental limitation is that only one fre- quency, or at most a very few frequencies, can be made

available for this service. The system proposed in- volves the continuous transmission of ultra-highfrequency radio waves from each airplane. Directivity of reception or transmission, or both, will inform

the pilot of the direction of danger.

Progress is also reported by the bureau in the development of a combined transmitter for the simultaneous

broadcasting of radiotelephone and visual type radio

range beacon signals. This is designed to remove the

principal limitations on the present radio aids to air

navigation, which is that the pilot receives no bea- con service while receiving weather or telephonic

information.

A master oscillator controls simultaneously a radiotelephone transmitter and a beacon transmitter. The

first transmitter supplies the carrier-frequencj^ waves and the speech-modulated waves to an open antenna. The second supplies only the radiobeacon side bands

to the beacon loop antennae.

Filter arrangements and automatic volume control

have been worked out to facilitate the reception of

these signals aboard the aircraft. The fundamental

adjustments necessary in the experimental model of

this transmitter have been completed and performance

tests begun at various distances from the station. A

number of tests were made at approximately 125 miles

from the transmitting station ; in these tests successful

reception of both the voice and beacon signals was

accomplished, with indications that this reception

could be obtained over greater distances. Satisfactory

sharpness of beacon courses was obtained. As a result of these and other tests the feasibility of the combined

service is assured.

Receiving antennae.

For some months the National Bureau of Standards

lias been conducting a detailed study of the character

NEW ZEALAND MAY ADOPT BRITISH

STANDARDS

With the development of New Zealand’s secondary

industries the question of standardization is becoming

important, according to the annual report of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research of New

Zealand, which states that the need for adopting cer- tain phases of standardization in the Dominion has

been increasingly felt for some time.

While it is necessary to have some executive body

carry the proposals into effect, it is fully appreciated

that a request for standardization of any particular

product or material must first be made by an industry.

istics and performance of airplane receiving antennae

of various types. One object of this investigation was

to find an antenna arrangement having the same

desirable electrical characteristics as the vertical pole

antenna, but free from the problems of mechanical

vibration and ice formation encountered in the use of

the pole antenna. One of the advantages of the vertical pole antenna is its freedom from course errors in

radio range beacon reception.

A number of different antenna arrangements have

been studied, both by theoretical analysis and by practical observation in the air and on the ground. For

each antenna studied, the tests in the air included

observation of the received voltage, the localizing

effect or variation of the received voltage in the immediate vicinity of the beacon tower, and the course

errors as observed by circling the beacon.

These were compared directly with results obtained

using the vertical pole antenna. The antenna arrangements studied included the inclined antenna, with both

forward or backward inclination (one example of

the latter being the trailing wire antenna) ; the horizontal dipole antenna; the horizontal V antenna; the

horizontal L antenna ; the inclined V antenna ; the symmetrical transverse T antenna; and the symmetrical

longitudinal T antenna.

The symmetrical longitudinal antenna with a vertical lead-in was found to have an advantageous combination of the desired operating characteristics. The

two flat top elements lie along a line parallel to and

directly above the axis of the fuselage, held by short

vertical supports, considerably shorter than the usual

pole antenna (10 to 18 inches instead of 5 to 6 feet).

Equivalent effective height is secured through the use

of the flat top.

It is essential that the longitudional T antenna be

located in a position such that the electrical effect of

the airplane frame acting as the counterpoise is symmetrical; this is not always possible in the case of

open cockpit airplanes, but is usually possible in cabin

airplanes. This type of antenna is free from course

errors in radio range beacon reception. It is superior

to the vertical pole antenna structurally, and in respect

to ice formation, mechanical vibration, and aero- dynamic resistance.

It is not intended for standards to be forced on any

industry, but that the necessary administrative machinery should be set up where the benefit of a particular standard is mutually recognized and can be

given an official status. At an important conference of interested parties,

held on July 4, 1930, the general adoption of British

standards was approved, and a local committee was

established to act as a liaison body with overseas standardizing associations. Modifications of British

standards, such as will enable them to be made of

greater application in New Zealand, will be brought to the notice of the British Engineering Standards Association.
JANUARY, 1931 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 213

NEW DIETARY STANDARDS DEVELOPED

Protein Content and Vitamin Potency of Marine Products Important; Cod-liver Oil has Excellent

Therapeutic Properties

By John Ruel Manning, Technologist, United States Bureau of Fisheries

Knowledge resulting from studies in the science of

nutrition is establishing new dietary standards and

gradually changing old principles of diet to the great

benefit of humanity, both from the standpoint of

healthful living and longevity of life. Great strides in nutrition standards have been made

during the past decade. Not only has there been considerable scientific progress but, to bring into play a much-used expression, the world has become “ nutrition minded.” The masses are rapidly becoming better acquainted with the principles and standards of

nutrition and are making far greater use of them in

their daily lives than ever before.

Marine products are an extremely important potential source of numerous nutritional requirements in

the dietary of man and his domestic animals. These

products of the sea are valuable for their vitamin potency, protein content of a high coefficient of digestibility; and for their quantity and variety of mineral

constituents.

Everyone is familiar with the excellent therapeutic

properties of cod liver oil, a marine product, which

has had medicinal value for hundreds of years. Cod

liver oil probably plays the greatest single role in the

rearing of children than any other standard substance

of known therapeutic value.

The interest in the nutritive properties of fishery

products has grown to such an extent that the Bureau

of Fisheries has found it necessary recently to organize a special section of fishery science and technology

devoted to this subject.

In selecting the subjects of study and research in

this field, we have considered those problems which

would benefit the largest number of people. Most of

these studies have been pursued in cooperation with

other Government organizations and with outside

agencies and individuals. For a number of years the

Bureau of Fisheries has maintained a research assistant at Johns Hopkins University who has been

engaged in investigations of the nutritive value of

various marine products through carefully controlled

biochemical experiments with laboratory animals.

The results of these tests have not only revealed the

nutritive standards of the substances studied, but have

also aided technologists of the bureau in pointing the

way toward improvements in methods of manufacture

which in turn would raise the standards of the finished

products of the fisheries. Cooperative research conducted.

Recently the Bureau of Fisheries, of the Department of Commerce, and the Bureau of Chemistry and

Soils, of the Department of Agriculture arranged a

cooperative research program for the study of marine

products in nutrition. Already this working arrangement has been productive of results which offer considerable potential benefits to both the agricultural

and fishery industries. These results, which have been

submitted for publication, have revealed that salmon,

pilchard (California sardine), and tuna oils, now used

only in the arts and industries, are a cheap and plentiful source of vitamins for animal feeding. Standard

improvements in the methods of production of these

fish oils will probably increase their vitamin content. Other cooperative feeding tests with both laboratory

and farm animals have been arranged by the Bureau

of Fisheries.

It should be remembered that most nutrition investigations are carried on with animals, but the results are

directly applicable to humans in many ways. Suffice

it to say that marine products offer a fertile and

almost virgin field for the advancement of dietary

standards. It can not be too emphatically stated to workers in the science of nutrition that here lies a pioneer field of potential investigation offering rich

rewards and a veritable “ gold mine ” of possibilities

in scientific accomplishment.

COMMERCIAL STANDARDS FOR MIRRORS

The importance of quality standards was emphasized by Miss Minita Westcott, assistant secretary of

the Mirror Manufacturers Association, in an address

before the home-furnishings section of the American

Trade Association Executives.

In her address Miss Westcott stressed the fact that

the first step toward achieving a broader market has

been the establishment of commercial standards for

mirrors. “As you know,” she said, “ mirrors are made

from plate glass by silvering one side. No mirror can

be better than the plate of glass out of which it is made. Five grades were created corresponding to the

qualities furnished by the plate-glass manufacturers.

The purpose of these standards is twofold ; to stabilize

the product, and incidentally the market, ' and to

inspire consumer confidence.

“ In setting up these standards the qualities are defined for both manufacturer and consumer. This gives

each manufacturer the opportunity to compete equally

and fairly with every other manufacturer. It has a tendency to submerge price competition by making

the buyer think more of quality than of price. A designation of quality on mirrors inspires confidence of

the consumer in the product or in the quality of the

commodity he is purchasing. He is educated to what

quality means in a mirror. He doesn’t buy just a piece

of glass with some silver on the back of it. “ The creation of minimum quality levels for a commodity,” said Miss Westcott, “ gives the public a feel- ing that it can buy with assurance. While this will

have a tendency to create more demand for the higher

qualities, it will, nevertheless, inspire confidence of

the consumer when he does purchase the lower grades.”
214 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY JANUARY. 1931 COMMERCIAL STANDARD FOR INDUSTRIAL FUEL OILS

General Use of Standard Grades Would Bring Economies to all Interests; Preheating Facilitates Use of

Lower-Priced Oil

By H. B. Pullar, Secretary, James B. Berry’s Sons Co.

The constantly increasing use of petroleum fuel oils for industrial purposes, the increasing and varying

sources of crude oil from which these industrial fuel

oils are produced, and the rapidly changing refinery

operations have created a demand for new commercial

standards.

Until recent years there were comparatively few

well-defined oil-producing fields and uniform methods

of refining. The crude oils had certain inherent

characteristics and properties, which after distillation

gave uniform and definite characteristics and properties to the residuum or fuel oils, so that the gravity

of the oils quite distinctly described their other physical properties and value as industrial fuel oils. The almost revolutionary methods in refining, the numerous cracking processes now in use, and the many

new crude producing areas (with their varying grades

of crude oils) have radically changed the conditions

under which fuel oils are now produced, and con- sequently have materially changed the inherent, chemical, and physical properties of these oils so that the

gravity is no longer even an indication of the characteristics of the residuum or fuel oils produced.

Fuel oils have always been and probably will always

be the residue from the refining of petroleum, and if consumers are to obtain the greatest value from their use they must adjust their operations to meet the

changing refinery conditions rather than expect the

petroleum industry to adjust its operations to meet

the consumers’ demand.

For a refinery to make a limited specification fuel

unless, by chance, their operations permit the production of such a fuel oil—requires considerable trouble

and expense which is not justified by its value or in

its practical use, and which expense must naturally

be passed on to the consumer. While, on the other

hand, a consumer at a relatively small expense can

usually adjust his operations so that he can use practically any type or grade of fuel oil produced, and

thereby take advantage of refinery and marketing

conditions as they develop.

The economical purchase of fuel oil should be on a B. t. u. (British thermal unit) basis; for heat units

is what the consumer is buying, and the more he can

purchase for a dollar the more benefit he will derive.

The value of a fuel oil should be determined by its cost in heat units at the consumer’s burner and not

at the refinery.

There are many industrial plants that can, at comparatively low cost, equip themselves with insulated

fuel-oil tanks and heating equipment to heat any

grade of fuel oil to the desired temperature, and the

cost of circulating hot fuel oil from the storage tanks

to the burners is in most cases insignificant as compared to the increased efficiency in using heavy fuels,

and being able to purchase the greatest number of

heat units per dollar. It is quite possible now to purchase fuel oil of from

5 to 7 gravity, or even lower, that has as high as 170,000 B. t. u. per gallon, and handle it easier and more economically than could formerly be accomplished with a 24—26 gravity fuel oil Jiaving

approximately 140,000 B. t. u. per gallon.

There are, of course, a number of industrial plants

that, because of the nature of their products or on

account of their particular operations, require fuel

oils or definite characteristics and properties, such as low sulphur content, cold test, or limited viscosity,

but there is no fuel-oil consumer who is dependent

upon or who specifies gravity in order to obtain a suitable fuel. Recognizing these changing conditions, a joint con- ference of representative refineries, distributors, con- sumers of fuel oils, manufacturers of oil burners, and

general interests adopted new commercial standards

for domestic and industrial fuel oils which have been

accepted by the industry and approved for promulgation by the Department of Commerce, and which,

if they would be generally accepted by fuel-oil con- sumers, would be of great economical value to themselves as well as to the producing interests, and their

adoption would be a big step forward in putting the

fuel-oil business on an economical and solid foundation of supply and demand of heat units instead of

unimportant and immaterial physical characteristics.

UNIFORM AIR RULES URGED

Standardization of Laws Important to Safety

Adoption of uniform regulations for aviation by

the States was urged December 16, 1930, by Secretary

of Commerce Robert P. Lamont.

Addressing a conference on uniform aeronautic

regulatory laws at the Commerce Department in

Washington, Secretary Lamont said standardization

of laws was “ one of the most important single contributions to rapid and safe development of aeronautics.”

Clarence M. Young, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Aeronautics, said from the beginning it

had been recognized as essential that the fewest possible regulatory laws consistent with safety and

uniformity be prescribed.

The Federal act left State regulation to the States,

he said, and confined itself to interstate operations,

but extended to intrastate operators the right to obtain Federal licenses. The five fundamentals of regulation, he said, are uniform basic State regulatory laws, adoption of

Federal air traffic rules by the States for purposes of

local enforcement, methods of local enforcement and

State enabling acts for airport acquisition and control,

and uniform airport field rules.
JANUARY, 1931 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 215

FIRE-RESISTANCE TESTS

Description of Standard Fire-resistance Tests and a Resume of Some of the Work Undertaken

By S. H. Ingberg, National Bureau of Standards

The fire-resistance activities of the National Bureau

of Standards have been concerned mainly with re- search on the fire-resistive properties of materials and

members entering into the construction of buildings,

the fire hazard of materials constituting the contents

of buildings, the severity of fires that can occur with

Partition in place for test forms one side of the furnace chamber

given amounts of combustible building contents, and

the protection afforded by devices, such as insulated

record containers.

Fire resistance, if in the form of materials incorporated into the building itself, has the advantage of

being independent of the human element, upon which

fire prevention of many other kinds must depend.

It loses little in effectiveness with age, remaining

practically unchanged as long as the structure serves

the purpose for which it was built. While general

fire-prevention efforts and fire-detective and fire-prevention devices are of value, the building itself must

remain as the chief factor in taking care of the margin

of danger due to carelessness, ignorance, and crime

that can not otherwise be further reduced.

The standard fire test consists in subjecting the

material, construction, or device to a furnace fire, the

intensity of which is so regulated that given average

temperatures are obtained in the furnace chamber at stated times after the fire is started. By means of

this control, approximately the same fire exposure

can be obtained at different times and in different

laboratories. The other requirements will vary with

the type of construction of device being tested.

Thus, columns are required to support a load approximating what they would carry in a buildingfloor constructions and bearing walls are similarly

required to support loads and also to afford resistance

to flame and temperature penetration to an extent that

will prevent ignition of materials in contact with the

unexposed sides of the walls. Incombustile finishes

must serve similarly in preventing ignition of the

material or construction protected, and insulated containers must preserve their contents. The fire resist- ance of the material, construction, or device tested is measured by the number of hours and minutes during

which these requirements are met in the fire test. Ability to withstand erosion from hose streams, as applied in extinguishing fire, is also required for walls,

floors, and partitions.
216 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY JANUARY, 1931

Building Columns.

Among the researches completed on the basis of the

above standard, are two series of tests of building

columns. The column is one of the most important

structural elements of a building, since failure of a

single column may cause collapse of a considerable

portion of a building. Requirements in different

building codes varied from 2 to 4 inches protective

thickness of fire-resistive materials. The results of one of the comprehensive series of fire tests have been

published as a joint report by the Underwriters’

Laboratories, Chicago, and also as Technologic Paper

No. 184 of the National Bureau of Standards. The

results of the other, which was concerned with tests of concrete columns conducted at the National Bureau

of Standards, is published in Bureau of Standards

Technologic Paper No. 272. Masonry walls.

While fire walls of masonry have long been recog- nized as increasing the fire safety of individual buildings as well as decreasing

the community hazard

from spreading fires, no

quantitative measurement

of the protection afforded

had been made until fire tests of walls, comparable

in size to that of a wall

panel in a building, were made by the National Bureau of Standards. The

results of these tests have

been published as Research

Paper No. 37 in the National Bureau of Standards, Journal of Research,

volume 2, January, 1929. Roofing materials.

In efforts to decrease the

community fire hazard,

most municipalities impose

restrictions upon the kind of roofing materials per- mitted within city limits or in certain portions thereof.

The scope of such restrictive measures has occasioned

much dispute, and at the request of organizations

representing producers and users of roofing materials, a comprehensive series of tests of the fire resistance of

all prepared roofing materials in ordinary use was

undertaken. This has included tests of new and weathered wood shingles, and asphalt prepared roll roofing

and shingles, slate, asbestos, metal, and tile roofings. Tests have also been made of painted and chemically

treated wood shingles, both new and after exposure to the weather for periods of up to 12 years. Specimens

of weathered wood shingle roofs covered with asphalt

prepared roll roofing and shingles or with paint coat- ings have also been tested. For the combustible roofings, the fire resistance of the weathered roofings was

generally considerably below that of the newly applied

materials, although some forms of asphalt roofings

showed little decrease in fire resistance after weather

exposures of up to 12 years. Results of the tests also emphasize the general superiority from the fire-resist- ance stand-point of incombustible roofing materials, such

as slate, cement-asbestos, clay and concrete tile, and metal.

The results of the tests are being prepared for publication

.

Severity of fires in buildings.

In order that protection requirements, such as those

for structural members, wall openings, and record

containers be placed on a definite basis, it is necessary

to be able to make reliable estimates of the severity of

fires that can arise with typical constructions and

occupancies involving given amounts of combustible

materials per unit of floor area. This severity would

have to be interpreted as equivalent to so many hours

of the standard fire test, the fire resistance of the

protections, constructions, and devices to be used being

measured by this standard.

Since the data obtained from actual fires are inconclusive as concerns temperatures developed and the

length of time they prevailed, some burning-out tests have been conducted in 1-story, fire-resistive buildings erected for the purpose; one being 15 by 29 feet; another 30 by 60 feet in plan. These buildings were

fitted with old furniture and records to represent light

commercial and record storage occupancies; the

weight of the combustible

contents ranging from 13

to 55 pounds per square

foot. The results obtained

indicate the possibility of

establishing by this means

a basis for applying materials, construction, and

devices as resistance against

fire with as great a degree

of safety and economy as they are being applied

for other structhr al

purposes.

Other projects completed

or in progress.

A paper is being pre- pared giving results of

fire and operation tests of

theater proscenium curtains and one on compressive strength of steel and cast iron at high

temperatures.

Fire tests have been made of columns protected by

poured and precast gypsum to supplement tests with

block protections previously made. Fire, impact, and

loading tests have been made of insulated safes to obtain data for revision of Federal specifications. Experimental work to determine the inherent fire hazard

and protection required for household heating appli- ances is in progress. This was undertaken to provide

a basis for protection requirements in building codes.

Considerable work on the susceptibility of materials

to spontaneous heating and ignition is being con- ducted, some of it in cooperation with the Marine

Underwriters. A survey of the amount and character

of contents of typical fire resistive buildings has been

made as an aid in making estimates of the probable

maximum severity of fires that can occur with given

occupancies.

A new furnace for conducting fire tests of walls

and partitions has been recently completed. The first series of tests now in progress comprises light interior

partitions of metal and wood studs, faced with differ- ent kinds of lath and plaster, wall board, or other

interior finish.

There was held at the National Bureau of

Standards on November 6, 7, and 8, the second

Bureau of Standards Soil Corrosion Conference, the purpose of which was to afford those

engaged in soil-corrosion research an opportunity to compare methods of testing and to exchange ideas. The attendance Avas limited to representatives of organizations carrying on re- search work on soil corrosion who reported some unpublished results of their work. The

reports belong to the participating organizations. The conference brought out the need for

recognized units Avith which to measure corro- sion and for standard methods for testing soils,

pipes, and protective coatings. It appeared

that the data now aA^ailable are insufficient to permit the establishment of such standards.
JANUARY, 1931 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 217

SOCIETY OF AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERS URGES STANDARDIZATION FOR

MOTOR-BOAT TACHOMETER DRIVE

Recent Meeting of Motorboat Engine Division of the Society of Automotive Engineers Recommends

Standard for Shaft Tachometer Drive

Greater progress in standardization that, when completed, should be of very material value to motor boat

and motor boat engine manufacturers as well as the

users of motor craft, is seen as the result of the October 21, 1931, meeting of the members of the motor boat

and marine engine division of the Society of Automotive Engineers. As rapidly as these projects can be

shaped into definite form, they will be circulated

broadly to the motor boat and engine industry for

study and constructive criticism.

Desirable standardization for outboard engines has

been considered recently by both the members of the

division and the Outboard Motor Manufacturers Association, relating principally to the mounting dimensions for this type of engine and propeller shaft ends.

A subdivision has been appointed to draft a definite

report on outboard engine mountings and to pre- pare a list of other outboard engine subjects for

standardization.

In 1918 the Society of Automotive Engineers originally adopted the tachometer drive for aircraft engines, the engine end of the driving shaft of which was 0.152 inch in diameter. Because of breakages of

the shaft, this diameter was increased to 0.187 inch

in 1922 and remained standard until 1928, when,

largely because of improved materials being used, the

diameter was reduced to the original ^-inch shaft.

In the meantime, however, the -j^-inch diameter

shaft had come into use by the motor-boat industry

for fuel pump as well as tachometer drives.

After considerable study of the matter, those at- tending the meeting on October 21 voted to recommend

adoption of a motorboat tachometer drive having a

TV-inch shaft and that only the engine end of the

di'ive be adopted. All other dimensions would be

virtually the same as the present Society of Automotive Engineers standard for aeronautic tachometer

drives. (See p. 14 of the 1930 edition of the Society

of Automotive Engineers Handbook.) The division

also considered the desirability of having a standard

reduction-drive ratio, but this was left for further

study, with the suggestion that the ratio for engines

operating at not over 2,000 revolutions per minute be

at engine speed and for engines intended to operate

above 2,000 revolutions per minute at half engine

speed.

When the present Society of Automotive Engineers

recommended practice (see p. 413 of the 1930 edition

of the handbook) was formulated in February, 1929,

it was intended that the couplings should be made of

high-strength material and definite Society of Automotive Engineers steels were proposed, but the

standards committee, in approving the report, deleted

the steel specifications. The question of material has

again been considered by the division because of lack

of complete information in the standard regarding

its applicability, and the division has now recom- mended that the following note be included under general information given on the handbook page referred

to in this paragraph.

Material.

The design of these couplings requires that they be

made of a suitable grade of steel or similar highstrength material, as cast iron is unsuitable for couplings of this type and these dimensions.

GAGE BLANKS STANDARDIZED

Pamphlet on Plain and Thread Plug and Ring Gage Blanks

“ CS8-30 ” Released

A printed pamphlet, Plain and Thread Plug and

Ring Gage Blanks, Commercial Standard CS8-30, has

been released by the Government Printing Office and was distributed to acceptors of record on December

6, 1930.

The standard includes details of construction for

plain cylindrical plug gage blanks, thread plug gage

blanks, plain ring gage blanks, thread ring gage

blanks of all sizes above 0.059 to and including 4%

inches in diameter and the official monogram used to identify such gages. The recommendation applies to gage blanks only and does not attempt to set up

dimensions or tolerances for finished gages.

The standard was developed by the American Gage

Design Committee as a means for simplif}dng gaging

practice through the adoption of standard designs for

gage blanks and component parts. While the committee was given full support and recognition by the

American Standards Association, the War and Navy

Departments, and the National Screw Thread Commission, the majority of the work was contributed by

the industry itself, many of the country’s largest in- dustrial units in widely diversified fields being repre- sented by active membership on the committee. The

committee’s efforts in this connection were furthered

by the generous cooperation of the gage manufacturers on the committee who offered, without reservation, to dedicate to public use their proprietary patent rights on any gage construction, the utilization of which

might be desired by the committee.

The pamphlet includes a list of acceptors and a brief

history of the project as developed by the American

Gage Design Committee.

A list of the members of the standing committee is also given, which was appointed to consider semiannually any comment or suggestions as to changes

in the standard in order that it may be kept in ac- cord with the desires of the industry and the advance

in the art. Copies of the pamphlet may be purchased from the

Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C.. for

15 cents per copy (stamps not accepted).
218 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY JANUARY. 1931 DESTRUCTIVE WEATHERING OF ROOFING SLATE

Formation of Gypsum During Weathering Process Gives Clue to Cause of Decay in Slates

How a natural rock composed mainly of inert minerals and possessing a high strength as well as very

low porosity is attacked by the weather is a problem

of considerable interest to both producers and users of roofing slate. While slate roofs are commonly con- sidered as among the most permanent types, there are

instances where this material has not come up to expectations.

During the past year the National Bureau of Standards has studied this question with the particular

object of devising specificational tests. The study of

weathered slates from roofs, together with numerous

tests, has indicated that the decay is due to a combination of chemical and physical processes. Frost

action apparently takes very little part in the decay

until the material has been considerably altered from

its original condition by certain chemical transformations. It is a well-known fact that decayed slate usually

shows the presence of quite appreciable amounts of

gypsum, although the fresh slate is practically free from this substance. Some investigators have ac- counted for the formation of gypsum in decayed slate by assuming that the small amounts of sulphuric acid

in the air react with the calcitic impurities.

This may account for a part of the gypsum, but it has been proved that this substance can also be formed

in some slates by merely soaking and drying them

several times. The formation of gypsum during the

weathering process affords a clue to the cause of decay

and indicates that the mineral impurities concerned

in the reaction are calcite and pyrite, the necessary

oxygen to complete the sulphate radicle being drawn

from the air. Apparently free carbon, which is usually present in slate, aids the reaction.

The conversion of calcite to gypsum brings about

expansive forces within the slate, since the gypsum

molecule requires more space than the calcite molecule.

Scaling of the surface of the slate results, and this

action is practically always more pronounced on the

covered portion of the shingle than on the part

exposed to the weather. This peculiar condition is probably caused by water penetrating between the

shingles during rains and the slower rate of drying

there than on the exposed surface.

Laboratory experiments indicate that the formation

of gypsum within the slate does not occur when the

material is continually wet and that periods of moist

conditions alternating with periods of dry conditions

are necessary to cause the reaction. Slates having

only a small amount of calcite impurity are affected

bjr this type of decay at a very slow rate. A very

dense slate containing considerable calcite is not decomposed as rapidly as a more porous one with a similar calcite content. Some of our domestic roofing slates may be depended upon for more than 30 years of serviceable

results while others are apparently good for more

than 100 years.

FUEL-OIL STANDARD REAFFIRMED FOR

ANOTHER YEAR

A standing committee for the Commercial Standard

on Domestic and Industrial Fuel Oils has recom- mended the reaffirmation of the commercial standard

for another year. Their decision was based largely on a report made from data furnished from the larger

refining companies regarding their use of the commercial standard specifications in which the unweighted

average adherence of 32 refiners was 77 per cent. A pronounced trend toward a better understanding

between refiner, distributor, and consumer is evidenced

in the growing use of the commercial standard

designations in the manufacture, sale, and use of fuel

oils, and consequent economies have resulted from a complete understanding among all branches of the

industry.

NEW AND REVISED PUBLICATIONS ISSUED

BY THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

Annual Report of Director of the Bureau of Standards. (Misc. Pub. No. 115.) This is the printed annual report made by

the Director of the Bureau of Standards to the Secretary of Commerce for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1930. The

various outstanding accomplishments of the bureau are grouped according to the subjects for which the Congress

had made specific appropriations. Price, 10 cents. Classification of Radio Subjects.—An Extension of the Dewey

Decimal System. (B. S. Circular4No, 385.) This is a systematic scheme of classification of subjects in radio science and engineering which is necessary in classifying references

to current radio publications and also for classifying all sorts of other radio material, such as reports, reprints, drawings,

books, apparatus, etc. Since the publication of Circular No. 13S (superseded by this circular) in 1923, the subject

classification it presents has been used extensively by many

radio research workers and engineers as well as by the radio

section of the National Bureau of Standards. The present

circular brings the classification up to date and makes a few changes which use has shown to be necessary. Price, 10 cents. Dental Hypodermic Needles. (R10S-29.) This is the published recommendation, as adopted by the June 17, 1929, conference of the industry. The pamphlet contains the

simplified list of stock varieties of dental hypodermic

needles. Price, 5 cents. Industrial Truck Tires. (R103-29.) This is the published

recommendation, as adopted by the June 6, 1929, general con- ference of the industry, and contains the approved schedule

of dimensions for industrial truck tires. Price, 5 cents. Manufacture of Insulating Board from Constalks. (Misc. Pub. No. 112.) This pamphlet gives detailed data about the

location and quantities of cornstalks available, the physical

and chemical composition of the stalks and the parts thereof, and the methods and costs of harvesting and baling the

stalks and delivering them to the factory. It describes the experimental work on the manufacture of insulating board

from cornstalks, from the first laboratory experiments

through to semicommercial production, giving details of different ways of making pulp from cornstalks and different types of equipment used to make board from the pulp. It also contains test methods and specifications showing quality

of the board produced as compared with similar products.

It estimates in detail the capital and operating costs for a commercial factory and analyzes the present and probable

markets for insulating board. Price, 10 cents.
JANUARY, 1931 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 219

STANDARD FOR DRESS PATTERNS

Dressmaking in the Home Still Important in Our Economic Life Despite Mass Production in Industry

/ Dressmaking, an activity of American domestic life which has given way in a large measure to mass manufacture of ready-to-wear garments, continues as an

important household occupation upon which depends

a wide range of related industrial enterprises.

Dressmaking in the home offers a possible avenue

of economy with which the National Bureau of Standards has become identified and in which other Federal

agencies, colleges and institutes, pattern designers,

fashion services, and department stores are cooperating. The bureau's relation to this activity concerns

the adoption of a uniform system of classification and

sizes for dress patterns which enables the American

woman to select a pattern which corresponds with

known body measurements.

While the ready-to-wear dress manufacturers have

supplanted a large part of the practice of home dressmaking, largely through immediate reproduction of

new st}des and through lowering of prices by mass

production, the industries concerned with hand dressmaking have taken steps to stimulate interest in this

activity through cooperation, improvement of service,

and attractiveness of style offerings. The increasing

circulation of women’s style magazines is sufficient testimony of the interest in this field. The extent to which home dressmaking is practiced

is revealed in the sales of household sewing machines.

In 1929, the value of production of both the hand and

the electric type exceeded $21,000,000, and represented

nearly 700,000 units. The trend toward the electric

type of machine is noted in the census figures which

shows the number of electric units produced last year

to be nearly equal to the number of foot and hand

machines. In 1927, the number of foot and hand machines produced was substantially greater than the

electric type. More directly relayed to home dressmaking is the business of dress pattern manufacturing.

In 1927, the production of dress patterns was valued

at nearly $14,000,000.

Also identified with hand dressmaking are the

fashion services, style magazines, piece goods, sewing

SIMPLIFIED PRACTICE VALUABLE AID IN

PURCHASING

“ The purchasing agent of to-day has realized his

responsibilities, analyzed his problems, and has applied modern methods of management,” said George

A. Cooper, a member of the staff of the National Bureau of Standards, in an address before the Indianapolis Purchasing Agents’ Association on November

2G, 1930. “The knowledge of simplification and standardization is another tested link in the chain of essential

principles necessary to the art of intelligent purchasing. Many of the acceptors of simplified practice

recommendations have reported savings ranging from

$1,000 to $100,000; while the total annual savings of more than $250,000,000 to industry is due to the application of the recommended simplified schedules.

thread, laces, trimmings, buttons, fasteners, and numerous other materials.

The standard for dress patterns which was adopted

by the industry after a series of conferences with representatives of education institutions, merchants, members of the industry, and designers, was put into effect at the beginning of 1930. The sizes adopted were

agreed upon after a study of anthropometric measurements, the experiences of pattern manufacturers, and

consumer demand. The principal aims of the pattern

standard are to facilitate the selection of patterns of

the proper type and size, to minimize the necessity of

alteration, and to contribute to more satisfaction in

the use of dress patterns.

The adopted standard sifts the former large number of confusing classifications into eight size groups.

These are ladies, misses, juniors, girls, children,

infants, boys, and little boys.

Each of these groups contains a series of sizes which

are based on definite body measurements. A size G

in the girls’ group, for example, would fit a measure- ment of 24 inches around the breast, 24 around the

waist, and 36 inches from the socket bone (back of

neck) to the floor. In the ladies’ group, the measure- ments covered are bust, waist, and hip.

The measurements adopted provide the pattern

producers with a uniform basis on which to make

allowances, such as for fullness, style, etc., without

affecting the individual or stjde characteristics of

the pattern. They assure the consumer a suitable

size or fit, regardless of what measurements or brand

of pattern is preferred.

The measurements embodied in the standards

adopted by the pattern manufacturers do not affect the sizes of the ready-to-wear dresses, inasmuch as dress manufacturers have their own system of sizes. The ready-to-wear makers have, however, shown considerable interest in the pattern standard as attested

by the number of inquiries received from them for

copies of the commercial standard pamphlets.

“ Simplified practice is a method of reducing waste

by eliminating unnecessary variety in industrial

products. Each program must originate within the

industry concerned, and the determination of which

items shall be eliminated and which retained is made

by representatives of all interests in general conference. The principle aid rendered by the division of

simplified practice of the National Bureau of Standards is in coordinating the preliminary work, assisting

to secure general adoption, and to maintain sustained

adherence.”

In the course of his discussion Mr. Cooper told of

the present status of simplified practice and its rela- tion to purchasing; the results which are accruing

to purchasing agents through its application; and of

opportunities whereby every industry may benefit

through the services of the National Bureau of

Standards.
220 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY JANUARY, 193L WALL-PAPER INDUSTRY ADOPTS CERTIFICATION PLAN

Quality of Paper not Discernible Upon Casual Inspection; Seals or Labels to Guide Purchaser

V

Greater attention to quality, evidenced in better

colors and coatings, has helped the Nation’s wallpaper industry to maintain a satisfactory rate of busi- ness and withstand competition from other wall

coverings.

Realizing the need for providing the consumer with

a guarantee of quality, wall-paper manufacturers

have cooperated in a plan of certification which was

effected through the National Bureau of Standards.

This plan entails the adherence of manufacturers to certain requirements as a basis for guaranteeing wall

paper against color fading. The wall-paper industry

has managed to withstand the competition of plastic

wall effects and various wall treatments, largely by

offering better and more attractive papers to the con- sumer. Its request for cooperation offered by the

National Bureau of Standards in the quality certifi- cation standard is one instance in that direction, and

its employment of modern designers is another.

Along with the esthetic appeal which the purchaser

seeks in wall paper, a product is desired that will have

a reasonably long life. Unfortunately, however, these

qualities are not discernible upon casual inspection.

Many low-grade papers, which find their way to the

market are serious competitors with quality papers

in the show room, but in actual use these papers are found to fade and discolor too quickly.

In order to induce their customers to choose a highgrade product and to provide the industry with an

incentive to improve wall paper, the manufacturers

are certifying through the use of seals or labels, that

the quality of the paper conforms to the accepted

standards.

The requirements of the wall-paper standards, in

regard to color fastness, are

All printed papers, grounds, backgrounds, or ink embossed

;

in other words, all finished printed wall papers shall be re- sistant to light, showing no discoloration or fading when the

printed side is exposed toward the rays of a carbon arc lamp,

as the fadeometer or its equivalent, for a period of 24 hours. During this test the temperature of the atmosphere adjacent

to the paper sha not exceed 40° C. (104° F.). According to the producers the test with the fadeometer during the 24-hour period gives assurance that

the colors will not fade for at least two years. The

standard also specifies that “ all paper shall be completely grounded or coated,” that a certain quality of

paper be used, and that the printing shall be hard

enough so that the coatings will not be rubbed off when

under ordinary usage. The standard does not in any

way limit the variety of colors or patterns used, but

affects only the quality of paper and the fastness of

color. The standard, which went into effect on August 1, 1929, has been accepted by the majority of wall paper

manufacturers, decorators, trade schools, institutes,

home economics colleges, vocational schools, universities, paint and wall paper trades, mail-order houses,

and merchants.

The production of wall paper last year was valued

at approximately $30,000,000, according to the Bureau

of Census. The number of people employed in the

industry totaled nearly 5,000 and there were 54

establishments listed.

REVISED SCALE FOR MOTOR FUELS

Fundamental Principle of Referring Knock Ratings to Mixtures of Pure Hydrocarbons Unchanged

Further study by the detonation subcommittee of

the cooperative fuel research steering committee and

the lubricants division of the Society of Automotive

Engineers standards committee lias resulted in re- vision of the proposed method of rating fuels, to read

as follows

Gasoline knock-testing results shall be referred back

to heptane-octane by using a scale of octane numbers,

the octane numbers to be the percentage of iso-octane

(2, 2, 4, trimethyl pentane) by volume, in a mixture

of iso-octane and normal heptane required to match

the antiknock value of any given fuel. This revised proposal following its approval on

September 15 was referred to the lubricants division

by the cooperative fuel research steering committee.

The revised recommendation differs from that made

on May 28, 1930, only in the definition of the term

“ octane number.” The fundamental principle of re- ferring knock ratings to mixtures of pure hydrocarbons is unchanged and the same two hydrocarbons

(heptane and iso-octane) are recommended.

The chief reason for defining octane number as “percentage of octane in blends of heptane and oc- tane ” rather than as “ parts of octane added to 10

parts of heptane” may be summarized as follows:

While either definition results in a satisfactory

scale for motor fuels of to-day, which range in antiknock value from about 50 to 80 per cent octane, it appears probable that future developments may re- sult in fuels approaching pure octane in antiknock

value, or even exceeding it. If the octane numbers

were defined as originally proposed, fuels equivalent

to 95 per cent octane or more would have numbers

which would appear entirely out of keeping with their

actual antiknock value, as the “ parts of octane per

10 parts of heptane ” approaches infinity as one approaches pure octane. This objection does not hold if the octane number

is defined as “percentage of octane.” Pure octane would have an octane number of 100 and the scale could be extended above this point by such a secondary

definition as “ octane numbers above 100 are defined

as 100 plus the percentage of pure benzene in iso- octane-benzene blends.” Whereas this may be con- sidered as looking too far ahead, it is felt that any

scale adopted should be capable of indefinite extension

without abandoning the scale used for fuels of to-day.
JANUARY, 1931 COMMERCIAL, STANDARDS MONTHLY 221

MAKING STANDARDS EFFECTIVE

Compilation of Plans of Various Agencies to Encourage the Use of Specifications and Standards

By R. A. Martino, Division of Specifications, National Bureau of Standards

In the development of the national standardization

movement, emphasis was naturally placed first upon

the establishment of specifications and standards suit- able for general use. Even up to the present time,

the making and promulgation of specifications continue to receive a large share of the publicity attendant

upon the general movement. It is obvious, however,

that these phases of the work are only preliminaries

to the actual use of standards, and it is fairly evident

that such actual use will not come about automatically

without effort on the part of those interested. This

fact has not been overlooked by business men, and

activities directed toward the effective use of standards have arisen more or less independently in many

quarters.

Many progressive trade associations include among

the services given to their members educational campaigns to show the value of standardization in their

own business. These campaigns set forth the advantages gained by mass operation in production,

elimination of waste in distribution as well as manufacture, and the reduction of sales expenses.

A considerable number of technical societies, trade

associations, and consumer groups have gone further,

and have taken the view that in order to make most

effective use of commodity standards those standards

must be understood and accepted by consumers as well as by those concerned with production and dis- tribution. Consequently these organizations have not

only encouraged manufacturers to produce commodities conforming to accepted standards and specifications, but have also taken definite steps to provide means and methods by which the buyer can identify

goods complying with the specification requirements.

These activities, in general, are based upon standards

which have been given national standing through some recognized agency.

The following outlines set forth in brief form the

methods used by a number of organizations to facili- tate the use of their own or other standards and

specifications by manufacturers and the identification

of goods made according to those standards. Some

of the information was taken from the publications

of the organizations. Much of it was obtained in

response to inquiries addressed to officers of American technical societies and trade associations regarding their campaigns for encouraging and facilitating

the use of their standards and specifications

throughout industry.

No attempt has been made to give either a summary

or an outline of the ividespread use being made of the

specifications of certain societies by manufacturers

who utilize the nomenclature classifications of these

societies in identifying their products.

Many branches of the national and local governments are active in promoting and facilitating the use

of their specifications and standards. The only mention made of these activities in the following outlines

is in connection with the cooperation being received

by technical societies, trade associations, and consumer

groups from the governmental agencies

American Association of Medical Milk Commissions permits

any dairyman who agrees to undertake the production of

certified milk to use the association’s approved seals bearing

the term “ certified milk ” on milk bottles. Continued use of these seals is based on weekly examination and inspection of sample milk by medical milk commissions organized in various

counties throughout the country.

American Automobile Association has established a contest board whose function is to set standards and formulate rules under which competitive automobile races are run ; speed

tests are sanctioned for international recognition, and auto- motive products are tested for an unbiased opinion as to their merit. It adopts the specifications for automobiles participating in championship races. Out of the stress and strain of these races have come many refinements and improvements

to the automobile. Tests of automotive and allied products

under standard rules have become one of the major activities of the contest board which offers a medium for the industry to have its wares certified to the car-owning public.

American Bakers Association operates a bread-scoring department which is part of the American Institute of Baking con- ducted by the association for scientific research and education. As a service to bakers the association has adopted a standard

form of bread record for use by bakers for scoring bread and

for submitting samples of bread to the department for the purpose of receiving benefit of comparable judgment of numerous samples submitted from all over the country. The association is encouraging the scoring of all bakery products as well as the bakery itself in order to improve not only the quality

and uniformity of the products but also the methods of manufacture and merchandising.

American Chemical Society has in operation a plan whereby

dealers are induced to stock reagent chemicals in metric unit weights and in the standard packages recommended by the

society. The names of those dealers who comply with these requirements are published in the society’s journals twice a

year. American Corn Millers Federation has adopted a symbol to be

licensed by the federation to all millers who will agree to conform to its specifications for corn meal. American Dental Association recommends that manufacturers

of amalgam alloys indicate by suitable labels or their equivalent that their product is guaranteed to meet the require- ments of either the specifications of the association or those

of the Federal Specifications Board relating to this commodity.

In the event of dispute between a member of the association and a manufacturer, the association acts in an advisory ca- pacity and designates testing laboratories having equipment

for making the necessary tests of dental amalgam alloys for the purpose of determining whether or not they comply with

the specifications’ requirements.

American Gas Association has established a gas-appliance

testing laboratory and permits manufacturers of appliances

which have been approved by the laboratory as complying

with its safety and performance requirements to attach to the appliances the official approval seal of the association. American Institute of Steel Construction permits its members

who adhere to its code of standard practice to use the

institute’s symbol as a label for their commodities.

American Medical Association has inaugurated a plan for the classification of foods which are presented for consideration to the Committee on Foods of the Council on Pharmacy

and. Chemistry. All foods merchandized under a label, or which are advertised in any way, may come within the scope

of the committee’s considerations. The committee on foods grants the privilege for display of its “ seal of acceptance ” on

foods which have been found to comply with the requirements

of its rules, regulations, and standards. The seal may be

displayed on the container label, in advertising matter, or in any form of advertising display related to the product. Foods

which have been termed “ accepted ” by the committee are
222 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY JANUARY. 1931

announced in the columns of tlie Journal of the American

Medical Association and in H.vgeia and listed in the book

“Accepted Foods.” Such accepted food products will be per- mitted advertisement space in the association’s publications.

A food for any reason not acceptable at first presentation may

have opportunity for reconsideration after the necessary changes of composition or process of manufacture have been

made. Foods with unacceptable claims which the submitter

will not agree to correct or delete will be announced as

“ rejected ” in the columns of the above publications, together

with the reasons for rejection, and such rejected foods will not be given advertising space in the publications of the

association. Food products submitted to the committee must

be accompanied by complete and detailed information on

manufacture, chemical composition, ingredients, and any

data in support of unusual claims. Evidence must be pro- vided that they are neither adulterated nor misbranded

under the terms and provisions of the Federal food and

drugs act or other Federal food statutes. A seal, if dis- played on the package, must be the only seal of such character and must not appear in conjunction with the seal of any

other investigative organization excepting that of a Federal Government agency. Should an accepted product for any

reason become unacceptable, the privilege of display of the seal

will be revoked immediately. All changes in advertisements,

claims, or copy of accepted foods, composition of the product, process of manufacture, or those of any other nature, made

subsequent to announcement of acceptance, must first be reported to the committee before use. Unless these require- ments are strictly adhered to, the committee reserves the right

to rescind the use of the seal on all accepted food products of those manufacturers who have been found guilty of violating these rules. American Oil Burner Association has recommended a model

ordinance governing the construction and installation of oil- burning equipment for use by municipal authorities having

jurisdiction over such installations. In order to encourage the use of this ordinance, the association publishes and issues a

circular entitled “ For Clean Cities—Oil Heat and Constructive

Municipal Regulation.”

American Petroleum Institute grants to manufacturers the

right to place its official monogram on certain standardized

equipment upon certifying that the material so marked complies with all of the conditions and standards contained in the official publications relating thereto. The institute reserves

the right to revoke the use of its monogram for any reason

satisfactory to the board of directors. American Society of Mechanical Engineers permits manufacturers to place the American Society of Mechanical Engineers

symbol on boilers complying with the requirements and tests of its boiler construction code. In its Mechanical Catalogue

special notations are employed to indicate those firms supplying equipment in conformity with standards of the American

Standards Association. American Society for Testing Materials, after consultation with a number of leading apparatus manufacturers and dealers

of testing apparatus, through its executive committee, has an- nounced the following policies

1. The society, in general, will not formally approve or

certify any specific testing apparatus as conforming to American Society for Testing Materials standards or tentative stand- ards for that type of apparatus.

2. The society will welcome inquiries or information about

testing apparatus intended to conform to American Society

for Testing Materials requirements for such types of apparatus

and will, through the appropriate committee of the society,

point out significant departures, if any, from the society’s

requirements. Where no such departures are found, it will be suggested that the manufacturer place his own guarantee on the apparatus that it meets the American Society for Test- ing Materials requirements for that type of apparatus.

3. It is suggested that purchasers of testing apparatus secure a guarantee from the manufacturer or dealer that apparatus

purchased for use in making tests in accordance with American

Society for Testing Materials requirements, either standard

or tentative, conforms with the specified requirements for such apparatus; and that instances of failure of apparatus

to conform with American Society for Testing Materials re- quirements, when advertised or marketed as meeting such

requirements, be reported to the society.

American Veterinary Medical Association has recommended

the adoption of a uniform health certificate to accompany

animals being shipped interstate. A committee of this as- sociation is endeavoring to bringvabofit a standard classification of all veterinary biological products that are now in use

for the purpose of preventing or curing diseases of animals. Each product will be placed in one of three classes or groups,

as follows : Group A, those veterinary biologies which are

efficient, or whose worth has been proven ; group B, those

biologies which are still in the experimental stage ; and group

C, those biologies which possess little or no value. Arkansas Soft Pine Bureau has inaugurated a plan whereby

all stock shipped by its member mills is trade-marked with

the registered symbol of the bureau, and grade marked in accordance with American lumber standards relating to sizes and grades of softwood lumber recommended by the Central Committee on Lumber Standards and published by the United

States Department of Commerce.

Aromatic Red Cedar Closet Lining Association recommends to

its members the use of a label, on either or both package

and invoice, guaranteeing that red cedar closet lining supplied

by them conforms to the standard grading rules as set forth

in tlie commercial standards relating to this item. Ash Handle Association has recommended that manufacturers

of ash handles for fork, hoe, rake, and shovel identify the grades of handles by impressing in the wood the symbol for the appropriate grade. The markings on the handles shall be made in accordance with the grading rules set fortli in the

simplified practice recommendation relating to these items. Asphalt Shingle and Roofing Institute, at a meeting held in April, 1926, adopted a resolution in which the entire membership of the institute unanimously signified its willingness

to certify to purchasers that commodities supplied by them

on contracts based on Federal specifications have been tested and found to comply with the requirements of these

specifications. Associated Cooperage Industries of America maintains an in- spection service for members and nonmembers for the purpose

of passing upon the quality of cooperage material, in accord- ance with the established grade rules and specifications of tlie association, at either the mill yard or destination. Associated Factory Mutual Fire Insurance Companies has estab- lished the factory mutual laboratories under the direction of

its inspection department whose function is to test for ap- proval only those devices which have a direct bearing on fire hazards or fire protection in factory mutual risks. Manufacturing firms whose devices have been tested and approved as

to both design and construction by the laboratories are per- mitted to use the association’s identification mark of approval on their devices. The association revises and reissues annually

its alphabetical list of approved appliances, thus furnishing

purchasers with up-to-date information as to what devices are approved and where they may be obtained. Associated General Contractors of America enters into .agree- ment with manufacturers of concrete mixers in accordance

with which permission is granted to attach to each machine a standard name plate designating that it complies with Associated General Contractors standards for mixers, thereby as- suring the purchaser of definite capacity and a satisfactory

degree of performance. Manufacturers whose machines fail to comply with the association’s standards may be denied the use of the plates. Associated Knit Uunderwear Manufacturers of America licenses manufacturers, whether or not they be members of the association. to use the standard label adopted by the association and

protected by law on garments which have been made to con- form to the measurements recommended by the National Bu- reau of Standards. The form of the license is considered in the nature of a contract between each manufacturer and the

association. The license carries with it an obligation on the part of the licensee to put up a small bond to cover the cost of an inquiry as to the abuse of the standard label where the

licensee has been found guilty of such abuse. To enforce the proper use of the standard label, a committee of inquiry and

correction has been set up, composed of representatives of the

association and of its affiliated distributors’ associations. This

committee has the power to hear complaints concerning the abuse of the standard label by customers, retailers, jobbers,

and manufacturers ; to hear all evidence which may be brought up in connection with such complaints; and to decide whether

or not a manufacturer has willfully, knowingly, and continually

violated the terms of his license contract, and in such a case to revoke the manufacturer’s license, giving the utmost publicity

to such a revocation. Associated Thermometer Manufacturers cooperated with the

division of trade standards, of the National Bureau of Standards, in the establishment of the commercial standard for

clinical thermometers. Manufacturers who have accepted the
JANUARY, 3 031 COMMERCIAL, STANDARDS MONTHLY 223

provisions of the commercial standard have expressed their willingness to certify to purchasers that clinical thermometers

manufactured by them comply with the requirements of the commercial standard. Each thermometer is to be accompanied

by a certificate giving the name of the manufacturer, the

place of shipment, and the date. Associated Tile Manufacturers lias adopted uniform grade names and a color scheme for grade marking, and certificates

to accompany packages of various types of tiles manufactured

to comply with the simplified practice recommendation relating

to this group of commodities. If required in the architect’s

specification, typical samples of each kind and grade of tiles as specified and proposed to be used, and shop or setting- drawings or rubbings, shall be submitted to the architect for approval. Each sample shall be marked with the name of the manufacturer and the grade of the tile. Approved samples

shall be retained by both the architect and the tile contractor. Before setting any tiles, the tile contractor shall furnish to the architect a certificate of grade, properly filled in on the form of grade certificate issued by the association. The certifi- cate shall be signed by the manufacturer of the tiles; shall state the grade, kind, and full quantities of tiles ; and give

identification marks for all packages of tiles furnished under

the conti-act. Packages shall be branded with correspondingshipping marks, and shall be subject to inspection by the

architect or his representative before being opened.

Association of American Feed Control Officials lias adopted

uniform types of labels for all classes of feeds. Manufacturers

or jobbers are required to place labels on all packages of feeds and the registration of brands and guaranties must be filed with the association. Each package of feed must bear a complete label. The label must be printed on one side of a tag- attached to the package, and must indicate the names of all ingredients, quality of the feed, name of brand, and the net weight of the feed in the package. A guaranty and label for

a brand having been registered may not be subsequently so modified as to permit the lowering of the quality of the feed, unless it can be clearly shown that the modification sought

to be made is consistent with the interest of the feeder. The

association will cancel the registration of any feed when it has been found that the brand name is misleading in any

respect, or the feed contains an injurious ingredient, or pack- ages are incorrectly labeled with regard to ingredients, or

there is evidence of misbranding or adulteration, or when labels on packages contain any statement, design, or device which

tends to deceive or mislead the purchaser.

Association of Manufacturers of Chilled Car Wheels maintains

a corps of inspectors who make semiannual inspection of all of the 58 associations foundries for the purpose of encouraging

and facilitating the use of its specification relating to foundry

standards and inspection and tests. Association of Official Seed Analysts of North America is con- ducting a campaign to have the rules for seed testing promulgated by the United States Department of Agriculture become

effective in the various States of the Union.

Better Bedding Alliance of America was organized chiefly to encourage the truthful labeling of the filling contents of bedding and the discouragement of any misrepresentation of the product. In order to prevent public deception and unfair

competition, the alliance is promoting the passage of sanitary

bedding laws which empower State inspectors to inspect bed- ding factories to insure that each article of bedding is correctly labeled as to the kind of filling material used and as

to whether it is new or previously used. Bureau of Explosives, which functions as ail agency for cooperation between the American Railway Association and

the Interstate Commerce Commission, maintains a chemical

laboratory for the study of explosives and containers, and

a foi-ce of traveling inspectors to insure compliance with the requirements of the specifications of the Interstate Commerce

Commission dealing with the transportation of explosives and

other dangerous articles. California Redwood Association has established a department

of inspection and grades through which the association supervises the grades of all redwood lumber manufactured by its member mills. Shipments which have been inspected are covered by inspection certificates bearing the official seal and signature of the association. These certificates insure purchasers that lumber so inspected conforms to the standard

grades officially adopted by the association.

California White and Sugar Pine Manufacturers Association maintains a grading bureau composed of traveling inspectors

who make periodic inspection of member plants in order to instruct graders in standard grading practices and to check

the grades, thus insuring compliance with American lumber- standards. Canners League of California secured the adoption of a law

by the California legislature requiring all canned peaches,

pears, apricots, and cherries of a grade below certain ap- proved standards to be marked “seconds, wholesome fruit unsuited for the better table grades,” together with a statement

indicating the density of the sirup, or, if the fruit is packed

in water, a statement that it is without added sugar. This

information must be lithographed on the lid of the can in

letters of a specified size. These standards are in harmony

with the minimum standards of the United States Department

of Agriculture.

Certified Milk Producers Association of America has adopted

the standardized methods of the American Association of Medical Milk Commissions for the production and distribution

of “ certified milk.” Commission on Standardization of Biological Stains has for one of its objects the improvement in the quality and reliability of the biological stains on the market. The commission does not manufacture or sell stains, but cooperates with

manufacturers in determining whether or not stains manufactured by them comply with the requirements of certain standards. The manufacturers are urged to submit a sample

of each batch of any stain to the commission for testing be- fore it is put on the market. Any batch thus tested and

found satisfactory may be sold by stain dealers under the commission certification issued in the form of labels and

attached to bottles containing stains. Common Brick Manufacturers’ Association issues certificates of grading to those members whose products have been tested and found to comply with the requirements of the American

Society for Testing Materials and Federal Specifications Board

specifications. All members who receive the certificate of grading are authorized to use the association emblem on their products and in their advertising matter. Builders of bric-k walls are permitted to place the association’s bronze marker

in the walls as a guarantee that the walls have been con- structed of tested clay products. Concrete Products Association issues certificates of quality to

its members when it is found that their products meet the requirements of the American Concrete Institute standards. Before a member can receive a certificate of quality, his product is tested by a representative of the association to ascertain whether or not it meets the standard requirements. These certificates are good for only one year and renewals can be ob- tained only upon tests made of new specimens. The association reserves the right to deny further use of certificates to any member whose product has been found to be below

standard. Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute has devoted considerable study to a proposed quality mark for certified new billet steel. This quality mark, rolled into each bar, will assist the institute members to distinguish quality steel from foreign-made bars and

domestic steel of questionable quality and grade. The institute has also in the course of preparation a form of licensing agree- ment which will permit its members to use quality certification trade-mai’k on steel which measures up to the required stand- ards of grade and quality. In order to make the quality

trade-mark effective, the institute has inaugurated a campaign

to educate the users of reinforced steel to insist on quality

marked bars in their purchase specifications.

Crown Manufacturers Association of America is assisting

manufacturers in developing a crown labeling program which

will confoi-m to the requirements of Federal and State pure

food and drug enforcement laws and regulations.

Diamond Core Drill Manufacturers Association has adopted an emblem to be attached to drill fittings or on packages or cartons containing the products to insure users that they are made in confonnity with the requirements given in the commercial standards relating to these items. These emblems are

supplied only to manufacturers whose plants are equipped

with the necessary gages for producing the diamond-core drill fittings. Durene Association of America, under a license agreement,

permits manufacturers of knit or woven merchandise using yarns which fulfill the requirements of the association's standard to use the durene label or stamp with which to identify their merchandise.

Eastern Clay Products Association has adopted the standard

specifications of the American Society for Testing Materials

for clay sewer pipe and draintile. It has established a labora- tory to which member plants submit specimens of their material for test to determine whether or not their material
224 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY JANUARY, 1931

conforms to standard definite requirements. In addition, the

association maintains a staff of trained engineers and others

specializing in their particular branch of trade association

activity for the purpose of promoting and servicing the better and more extended use of vitrified clay sewer pipe and other

clay products.

Glycerine Producers Association permits those members who

produce radiator glycerine and follow uniformly the association’s formula developed by its research committee, to sell the product under the grade name “ G. P. A. Radiator Glycerine,”

which is the association’s designation for a new grade of glycerine specially developed and manufactured for antifreeze use in automobiles and marketed in containers bearing the

association’s seal as part of a uniform design. Periodic tests of the radiator glycerine manufactured by member companies

using the association’s seal are made by the association’s

laboratories, in order to assure the public that the product is of uniform quality. Grain and Feed Dealers National Association advocated the standards for grain which have been established by the United

States Department of Agriculture in accordance with the grain

standards act passed by Congress. In its effort to insure adherence to these standards by its members, the association has incorporated in its by-laws a clause whereby any member

found guilty by the Department of Agriculture of a violation of

this act stands automatically expelled from the association, .and notice of his explusion is published in the association’s

official organ. Gummed Industries Association has made arrangements with

a commercial testing laboratory whereby acceptors of the

simplified practice recommendation for No. 1 Kraft paper

sealing tape may have available satisfactory means of testing

tape which they manufacture, distribute, or consume. Any

.acceptor of the recommendation may send samples of tape for

testing to the secretary of the association who will, in turn, send these samples, indentified by number only, to the labora- tory for testing. The results of the test will be reported to the secretary who will, in turn, notify the sender of the

sample.

Hardwood Interior Trim Manufacturers Association maintains an inspection service available only to members when they

become involved in disputes arising regarding the species,

quality, quantity, or workmanship of lumber sold by them. Hardwood Manufacturers Institute has inaugurated a “ car card plan,” and enters into an agreement with its members in accordance with which it issues licensed shipment certificates and a special form of envelope designed for use with such

certificates, the purpose of which is to identify the grade and

tally of hardwood shipments in sealed cars. Licensed members

are required to place in every car containing hardwood lumber

a licensed certificate, bearing the seal of the association, set- ting forth the contents of the car and certifying that the car was loaded by a competent inspector and guaranteed to be in compliance with the inspection rules of the National Hardwood Lumber Association. This certificate, a copy of which

is sent to the association, is inclosed in the special form en- velope and then placed in the car carrying the shipment of lumber, and is delivered unopened to the consignee immediately

upon breaking the car seals and before the car is unloaded. The association reserves the right to revoke the license or cancel the agreement in any case where, in the judgment of the

association, an improper or undue advantage is taken by any

licensed member, or where the member fails to carry out any

of the provisions of the agreement.

Heating and Piping Contractors National Association has de- veloped a national program for certified heating to replace the purely local programs formerly in use. It has adopted

national insignia, including a certified heating supplementary

certificate, to be sent with each bid, the plate to be attached

to each boiler, and the certificate to be issued on completion of the work to the house owner, certifying that the heating system was installed in accordance with the certified heating standards adopted by the association. Hickory Handle Association lias recommended that manufacturers of hickory handles identify the grade of each handle

by impressing in the wood the symbol for the appropriate

grade in accordance with the grading rules set forth in the

simplified practice recommendation relating to hickory handles. Ladder Manufacturers Association of America places its stamp

of approval on ladders found upon inspection to comply with

its requirements from the point of view of safety. Malleable Iron Research Institute confines its efforts in the general standardization field exclusively to the certification i

of the product of member companies. Through laboratory

and engineering work, the institute assists its members in the production of a product to conform to the requirements of the

institute’s specifications for malleable castings which are in harmony with those of the American Society for Testing

Materials. Member plants submit to the institute’s laboratory

test pieces from every heat. Quality certificates are issued

to those members whose products meet the requirements of the specifications. These certificates permit the member manufacturers to use the “ certified malleable ” trade-mark of the

institute and to advertise their products as having been certified by it. The institute publishes regularly the names of members whose products have met the requirements of the

specifications.

Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association permits member

manufacturers to use the association’s trade-mark on maple,

beech, or birch flooring which is standardized and guaranteed

by the association when passed upon by an association’s

official inspector, provided the grade name and species of the wood is stamped on each bundle of flooring. The association has inaugurated a “ car card plan ” by which it furnishes

certificates to manufacturers who, in issuing them, guarantee

the contents of sealed cars to be in conformity with the grading

rules of the association. Millwork Institute of California has inaugurated a certifica- tion plan based on standard minimum requirements of various

grades of material, methods of construction, and quality of workmanship to be expected in millwork items. Under the

plan, carefully selected manufacturers wdiose products conform

to the provisions of the standards and who subscribe to the

provisions of the license agreement, are licensed by the insti- tute as “ manufacturers of architectural woodwork.” Their

plants are designated by a license number issued by the institute. All products of licensed members are identified by labels or stamps carrying the words “ architectural woodwork ” and

“ certified by Millwork Institute of California,” supplemented

by the institute’s insignia and the license number of the member furnishing the work.

Mirror Manufacturers Association advocates to its members

the use of the association’s self-identifying quality-guaranteeing label on mirrors manufactured in accordance with the

several grades set forth in the commercial standard relating

to this commodity.

National Association of Finishers of Cotton Fabrics has made

arrangements with a commercial testing laboratory to conduct

tests of all member goods to determine the degree of fastness

to light and washing. Licensed finishers whose goods receive an “A” or “B” rating for fastness to light and washing are granted the use of the association’s “ Nafal ” label, showing

that the particular dyeing from which the sample was taken has passed the requirements and tests of the association’s standard for fast colors. The license to use the label is automatically revoked if, by a majority opinion of the executive committee of the association, it has been found that the

label was used in a manner contrary to the provisions of the

license agreement. The association has adopted a standard

method to be employed by the finishers of cotton fabrics for the return by finishers to the converter of all stretched as

well as damaged goods, and remnants of finished merchandise

over 1 yard in length. This principle which has also been

adopted by the Textile Converters’ Association has been

established as a standard of conduct for the trade. National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors per- mits boiler manufacturers to place the association’s approved

stamp “ National Board ” on all boilers constructed in ac- cordance with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers

boiler code and inspected during construction by an inspector

holding a national board commission.

National Canners Association, in cooperation with State can- ners associations, and with wholesale, retail, and consumer

organizations, was instrumental in securing the passage by

Congress of an amendment to the Federal food and drugs act, relating to the use of labels on canned food. The amendment

provides that food products which do not meet the standard

to be established by the United States Department of Agri- culture shall be definitely labeled with a designation to be

established by the United States Secretary of Agriculture for the identification of substandard foods. Products that meet

the standard, or are above the standard of the act, can be

distributed under the identical labels in use prior to the passage of the amendment. However, those products which

fail to meet the standard requirements must be classed as substandard and a specific form of labeling must be used with

1 them.
JANUARY, 1931 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 225

National Confectioners’ Association of the United States employs consulting chemists to analyze the products of its members and others for adulteration and to determine

whether or not they comply with established standards or in any way conflict with any Federal or State law. The association has adopted a code system for marking candy boxes

to show the dates when shipments are received. National Cottonseed Products Association has inaugurated a plan which has become a part of the association’s trading rules

for the development of standard methods for grading and

evaluating cottonseed. Under this plan oil mills will base

their quotations on basis cottonseed and will pay premiums

for quality cottonseed containing combined qualities of oil and protein (meal) above basis standard. Likewise, off- quality product will bring less than basis cottonseed. The plan

is designed to benefit all interests in the industry, namely, producers, shippers, ginners, and oil mills. In order to make

its rules, definitions, and analyses effective, the association

will expel any member from the organization who has been

found guilty of misbranding or adulteration. National Electrical Manufacturers Association, in its book entitled “ Motor and Generator Standards,” dated October, 1930,

recommends “ that the manufacturer guarantee that apparatus manufactured by him will deliver its rated output as indi- cated on the name plate, provided said apparatus is properly cared for, operated under normal conditions and with competent supervision.” It also recommends “ that when the ap- paratus is built to meet the requirements of the Government

or other standard printed specifications, and the name plate

clearly indicates the specifications to which the apparatus

conforms, it is not necessary to include on the name plate the detailed information specified in the National Electrical Manufacturers Association rules.” National Hardwood Lumber Association maintains a staff of bonded inspectors in the principal producing and consumingcenters of the country who are authorized to issue certificates on lumber shipments. These certificates are backed by this association with an adequate financial guarantee.

National Hay Association, when requested to do SO, investi- gates the qualifications of inspectors and permits approved

inspectors to make record of the association’s approval on

their official certificates of inspection. National Lumber Manufacturers Association licenses the use

of its “ tree-mark ” on each piece of lumber in conjunction

with the grade-mark, trade-mark, or species mark of licensed

mills that conform to the American Lumber Standards, the lumber being guaranteed by the National Lumber Manufacturers Association to conform to such specifications as may be branded thereon. National Macaroni Manufacturers Association requires that

all products manufactured by its members must be subjected

to chemical tests and analyses at the association’s laboratory

to determine whether or not they comply with the association’s standards and specifications, which are in harmony with those

established by the United States Department of Agriculture. National Pajama Manufacturers Council issues labels to its members guaranteeing that pajama measurements comply

with the requirements of the commercial standard for this commodity.

National Preservers Association has sponsored a bill for con- gressional consideration in which are included the definitions and standards for fruit jars, preserves, jellies, apple butter, and other products, unanimously approved by the association membership. The object of the bill is to prevent adulteration

or misbranding of products. It also provides that all sub- standard products shall be properly labeled as to their actual composition.

National School Supply Association has inaugurated a certifi- cation and labeling program whereby all janitor supplies used

in schools will be properly labeled as conforming to certain standards promulgated and adopted by the association. The

manufacturers or distributors of janitor supplies may submit

samples of their regular janitor supply products to the asso- ciation for certification purposes. These samples are tested

in the laboratory of the association. When the samples tested conform to the different standards established, quality labels are issued and the companies are privileged to use the certifi- cation seals. The association also makes use of labels to identify school furniture complying in color with the standards

established by the industry under the auspices of the United

States Department of Commerce.

National Warm Air Heating Association has adopted a symbol

which is placed on furnaces indicating that they have been

installed in accordance with the requirements set forth in the

association’s standard code. Only those installers who have

pledged themselves to install furnaces according to the stand- ard code are entitled to use the symbol. The installation of furnaces is triply indorsed—by the installer, the furnace

manufacturer, and the association. National Wiping Cloth Standardization Association has inau- gurated a guarantee plan which provides that every member

of the association may continue to sell his wiping cloths under any classification or designation that he may see fit to use. At the same time certain standard classifications wr ill be set up under which cloths will be sold with a guarantee

to the consumer that they are packed in accordance with the

association’s standard specifications relating to quality. These

cloths will be known as NAWMD Certified Wipers and each

member desiring to handle wiping cloths under the guarantee

will be furnished by the association with a certificate, bearing

a permit number and a standard tag, which may be placed

in or attached to bales or packages shipped. Members taking

advantage of this plan sign an agreement to observe certain

obligations.

New England Council has inaugurated a farm marketing pro- gram to encourage producers to grade and pack their products

according to official State standards, and to identify them by means of quality labels placed on the containers in which the goods are packed. In making this program effective, the commissioner of agriculture in each of the six States has been

granted legislative authority to establish and promulgate vol- untary grades and standards for farm products. Several such

grades are now in use in each State. The commissioner of

agriculture has also been given the authority to adopt a suit- able label for identifying such products graded and packed

according to established standards. The New England quality

label has been adopted by each of the six States. In estab- lishing official grades and standards for farm products con- ferences are held by the commissioner of agriculture with

groups of producers who are especially interested in the products for which grades and standards are to be adopted. At

these conferences tentative standards and descriptive terms

are freely discussed before final adoption. An attempt is made

to keep the grade names, requirements, and descriptive terms

as uniform as possible in all New England States, and in harmony with the recommendations of the Federal Government. Before the adopted grades and standards can beeomeeffective, they must be avertised in the press according to the law requirements of the States. Permission to use the New

England quality label must be obtained from the commissioner

of agriculture, and it may only be used on goods packed in accordance with official State grades. To protect the reputation of the quality label, each State department of agriculturemaintains an inspection service with trained field men whose

duties are to examine graded and labeled products to determine

whether or not they comply with the necessary requirements.

New York Produce Exchange under its rules appoints annually a cottonseed products committee which, in turn, appoints^ one or more chemists and graders, whose duty it is to grade

and analyze all cottonseed products submitted to them. Samples submitted for analysis are tested in the bureau of chemistry of the exchange in accordance with official methods

adopted jointly by the National Cottonseed Products Association and the American Oil Chemists Society. Certificates of

quality are issued and signed by chemists making the analysis or grading.

North Carolina Pine Association, at the direction of its board

of directors, may employ, from time to time, for the association, a chief official inspector and as many assistants as

necessary, who make regular tours of inspection to all of the

mills of the members, and who also act as arbitrators in the adjustment of claims regarding inspection arising between

retailers or purchasers and members.

Northern Hemlock and Hardwood Manufacturers Association has adopted a system of certified shipments of lumber whereby

it enters into a licensing agreement with lumber firms to manufacture, grade, and ship lumber in accordance with the standard rules of the association. It maintains a force of

inspectors who frequently visit the plants of licensed manufacturers for the purpose of checking the grading and inspection work. Only firms having competent lumber inspectors

may be licensed. Under the terms of the contract a licensed firm agrees to place in each car of hardwood lumber shipped

the association’s licensed shipment form properly filled out to show the correct grade and tally of the lumber in the car, and to seal it within the association envelope. The buyer is thus furnished with a certified copy of the original inspector’s statement of the amount and grade of lumber loaded into the
226 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY JANUARY. 1031

car at the original shipping point. The licensed manufacturer

further agrees with the association that in case of complaint,

the buyer shall unload the car and submit his tally report to the firm within five days after unloading. In the event of failure to reach adjustment, the buyer may obtain inspection

in accordance with the inspection rules of the National Hardwood Lumber Association. The association may revoke the

license of any manufacturer where it is found that improper

or incompetent use is made of the association’s shipment

forms ; or where the terms of the contract have been breached

;

or for any other reasons passed upon by the hoard of directors of the association. Northern Pine Manufacturers Association maintains an inspection bureau for the purpose of supervising the grades of lumber at member sawmills in order to insure purchasers that lumber manufactured by these mills complies with American

lumber standards. The bureau also furnishes reinspection

service to buyers.

Paper Bag Manufacturers Institute (formerly the Grocery Bag

Manufacturers Service Bureau) under a licensing agreement

permits its members to use the association label on packages

of bags guaranteeing the capacity of the bags to be in con- formity with the standards set forth in the simplified practice

recommendation relating to this item. The use of the label

is also a further guaranty that the bags are packed full count, 500 bags to the package, and in accordance with the standard packing requirements adopted by the institute. Paperboard Industries Association grants to its members the

privilege of using its insignia in connection with the certifi- cates used by manufacturers showing that boxes bearing these

certificates conform to all construction requirements of the

consolidated freight classification or the official express

classification. Porcelain Plumbing Fixture Manufacturers (advisory committee to the National Bureau of Standards) issue labels certi- fying compliance with the commercial standards for porcelain

plumbing fixtures. Porcelain (all-clay) plumbing fixtures bear the trade-mark or name of the actual manufacturer and

the words “ Made in U. S. A.” applied in such a manner as

to be permanent. “ Regular selection ” labels are used only on such ware as conforms to the requirements for “ regular

selection ” as set forth in the grading rules of the commercial

standard for plumbing fixtures. No label is used on ware

which grades lower than “ regular selection.” Labels are to be applied on ware only at the factory.

Rail Steel Bar Association permits its members to roll a uni- form identification mark on deformed rail steel reinforcing

liars produced by them. The use of this mark, which is pro- tected by registration, signifies a willingness on the part of manufacturers to certify that bars produced by them comply

with the requirements and tests of the association’s standards. Red Cedar Shingle Bureau permits its members to use labels as a mark of guaranty and indorsement on roofing shingles

which, upon inspection, have been found to comply with the grading rules of the bureau, these rules being in conformity

with those of American lumber standards relating to grades

and sizes of cedar shingles. Rice Millers’ Association issues inspection certificates based

on the grades and specifications for milled rice recommended

by the United States Department of Agriculture. The associ- ation maintains a corps of samplers in the field and a labora- tory equipped to test rice for condition, grade, and quality.

Silk Association of America, through its spun-silk research committee, permits manufacturers to use tags certifying that

silk meets the specifications of that committee for “ lavelle.” Society of Automotive Engineers limits advertising in its handbook to suppliers of automotive parts or materials which

are made in accordance with the society’s specifications. In

each case certificates are signed by proper officials of manufacturing firms to the effect that the products advertised comply with designated specifications.

Society for Electrical Development has inaugurated a so-called

“ red-seal plan ” for identifiying a house that is properly and

adequately wired in accordance with approved specifications.

The plan involves wiring specifications, an inspection, and an

award. Basically, the wiring specifications consist merely of numerical values ; that is, the number of circuits, switches,

lighting, and convenience outlets, properly located to provide

for the convenient use of the various lighting, heating, and

power applications in a home. Inspection is provided locally

by a representative of a duly authorized operating organization who checks the specifications against the job. If the wiring installation conforms to the specifications, an award

is made consisting of a miniature red seal, permanently

affixed to some part of the main service panel, and a certifi- cate signed by officers of the operating organization is issued

to the house. Southern Cypress Manufacturers’ Association maintains an in- spection department for the purpose of checking and in- specting lumber manufactured by member mills to insure purchasers that it is graded and shipped in accordance with

American lumber standards rules. Under proper inspection,

member mills are permitted to stamp their lumber with the trade-mark, which has the approval and backing of the

association. Southern Pine Association employs a staff of inspectors who

make a monthly check on the member mills to determine

whether or not lumber is being manufactured in accordance

with the provisions of American lumber standards. Firms

receiving this service are permitted to place the association grade and trade-mark of the expert grader on all of the lumber

they manufacture.

Steel Barrel Manufacturers Institute maintains its own policing

system for the purpose of protecting the buying public from

unscrupulous deterioration of member products on the substitution of inferior material in the manufacture of steel barrels. All members have pledged themselves to adhere to the standards developed by the institute, or those established by the Interstate Commerce Commission, or those which are embodied in the rules of the consolidated classification committee, and certify to purchasers that barrels manufacured

by them c omply with the requirements of these standards.

Structural Clay Tile Association has adopted a certified quality

label for the identification of clay products meeting certain quality standards. Member firms are permitted to use the

association's label on their products for certifying that they meet the requirements of the specifications of the American

Society for Testing Materials and the standards established by the association. The use of this label is restricted to materials of first quality that are specified for certain definite and recognized uses. The association reserves the right to revoke the permit to use its label when it has been found that

a manufacturer has willfully misrepresented the quality of his product.

Textile Converters’ Association has adopted a standard method

to he employed by the finishers of cotton fabrics for the return by finishers to the converter of all stretched as well as damaged

goods, and remnants of finished merchandise over 1 yard in length. This principle, which has also been adopted by the National Association of Finishers of Cotton Fabrics, has been

established as a standard of conduct for the trade. Tire and Rim Association conducts inspection work for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not tire rims constructed by its member manufacturers comply with the association's standards. Those rims which are approved are branded with

the trade-mark of the association. Tissue Paper Manufacturers Association authorizes its mens

tiers to use the official label and seal of the association in guaranteeing packages of tissue paper to be in accordance

with the simplified practice recommendation for this commodity. The label is issued in six different colors, each color indicating a particular grade of tissue paper. Underwriters’ Laboratories, established and maintained by the National Board of Fire Underwriters, tests appliances, devices,

machines, and materials for their merits respecting life, fire, and collision hazards, and theft and accident prevention. A

manufacturer, desirous of securing an examination and report

with a view to listing by Underwriters’ Laboratories on an

appliance, system, or material, first deposits a preliminary

fee as evidence of good faith and on completion of the work

pays the balance of its cost as shown by accurate detailed

records. As a warrant that an applicant will not incur costs beyond his expectations, a limit of expense is fixed wherever

possible beyond which charges are not made. The amounts

of the fees are in proportion to the nature and extent of the work required in examinations and tests. Whenever reports

of appliances' or materials are ready to be issued, the favorable opinion promulgated in the council report is followed by

one of three forms of follow-up service with respect to sub- sequent factory output. The one known as label service consists of inspections of devices and materials at the factories by laboratories’ engineers, and the labeling of standard goods

by stamps, transfers, or labels, whereby they may be recog- nized wherever found. All such labels include the words

“ Underwriters’ Laboratories Inspected.”

United Roofing Contractors Association of North America per- mits manufacturers to use its trade-mark label on materials
-JANUARY, 1931 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 227

inspected and found to comply with the association's

specifications.

United States Shellac Importers Association lias inaugurated a plan for the sampling of all shipments of shellac imported

into the United States. The plan provides for a standardization bureau which shall examine each importation of shellac. An examination committee, composed of representatives of member firms, is intrusted with the duty of examining samples

of the various grades of shellac and passing upon their quality

in accordance with the official rules and regulations of the

-association. The examination committee issues certificates in triplicate on each lot examined, stating grade, mark, lot number, name of vessel, date of examination, and the committee’s award. Copies of certificates are furnished to buyer

and seller and another copy is filed with the assocition. Under

the plan provision is also made for the settlement of any

disputes which may arise in the operation of the plan, through

•existing arbitration machinery of the association. Vitreous China Plumbing Fixtures Manufacturers (advisory

• committee to the National Bureau of Standards) authorizes

manufacturers to employ labels for grade-marking products

complying with the commercial standard for this group of commodities. Water-closet bowls, tanks, tank covers, lavatories, and all other vitreous china plumbing fixtures bear the trade-mark or name of the actual manufacturer applied in such manner as to be permanent. No name, brand, or label other than that of the actual manufacturer is used on the ware. “ Regular selection ” labels are used only on such ware

as conform to the requirements for “ regular selection,” as

set forth in the grading rules of the commercial standard for vitreous china plumbing fixtures. No label is used on ware

which grades lower than “ regular selection.” Labels are to

lie applied only at the factory. The following wording is used

on labels for “ regular selection ” ware : “ This piece has been

graded in accordance with uniform grading rules adopted by

the sanitary potteries in conjunction with the United States Bureau of Standards of the Department of Commerce.”

Wallpaper Association of the United States has copyrighted a

self-identifying trade-mark guaranteeing wall paper manufactured by its members to be in compliance with requirements

of the commercial standards for this commodity as set up by

the wall-paper industry. West Coast Lumbermen’s Association, through its department

of grades and manufacture, makes monthly inspection at member plants for the purpose of supervising the manufacture

and grading of lumber. It inspects lumber at the plant and

issues official certificates of grade and quantity of individual shipment upon request; it reinspects at point of destination, followed by the issuance of a detailed report ; and it provides

for and supervises the use of official grade and trade marks

at member plants. This association has provided a standard

shipper’s certificate which is supplied to its membership who

desire to make use of it in connection with their shipments.

On this certificate is stated the exact quantity, by pieces or

fit, and quality of lumber loaded and serves as a guarantee

to purchasers that the lumber delivered is in accordance with

the statements contained in the certificate. Western Pine Manufacturers Association maintains an experi- enced staff of trained inspectors who visit member mills at regular intervals to check the work of the mill graders for the purpose of determining whether or not shipments of lumber

are graded in accordance with association rules. In order

that lumber may be readily identified by the purchaser, the member mills are permitted to use the association’s registered

species trade-mark. The association has also inaugurated a

“ car card plan ” by which member mills insert in cars yffi lumber leaving their plants a shipper certificate of car contents. on which is noted the amount, grade, size, and species of the material shipped.

IDENTIFICATION OF QUALITY-MADE GOODS

It will be noted from the outlines given above that

-of the organizations taking steps to encourage manufacturers to produce commodities complying with cer- tain nationally recognized specifications, commercial

standards, and simplified practice recommendations,

many are recommending the use of labels for the purpose of identifying said commodities.

Several consumer and producer organizations have,

from time to time, adopted resolutions definitely

placing themselves on record in urging or requesting

manufacturers to place on commodities produced by

them labels or their equivalent stating that the commodities comply with the requirements of certain

nationally-recognized standards or specifications. In

the following outlines there are set forth, either in

full or in abstract from, the resolutions adopted by

these organizations;

American Home Economics Association has adopted the fol- lowing resolution with reference to the use of labels on consumer goods

“ Resolved, That the members of the American Home Eco- nomics Association cooperate with the United States Bureaus

of Home Economics and of Standards and with the American

Standards Association in an attempt to secure more labels for consumer’s goods which will give accurate information to the over-the-counter buyer. The members of the association have many inquiries from housewives who feel themselves handicapped in purchasing because of the lack of such labels. The very great development during the last 25 years of new

kinds of household goods has resulted in confusion in the minds

of ultimate consumers, and there is a demand for the develop- ment of scientific purchasing information, and be it further

“ Resolved, That (he American Home Economics Association

request the American Standards Association to initiate an

investigation of methods of safeguarding the interests of the ultimate consumer, when labels in terms of specifications are

used. At the present time the American Home Economics

Association does not have the funds for systematic work of

this sort. Neither the American Standards Association, the Bureau of Home Economics, nor the Bureau of Standards has

the facilities for doing such policing, but it is very important

that machinery be set up for preventing the misuse of labels misleading to the purchaser.”

American Standards Association, under date of March 27, 1924,

adopted the following resolution : “ In the opinion of the American Standards Association

the use, in the advertising of products which comply with

specifications and other standards approved by the association, of proper reference to such standards, is advantageous

and makes for industrial economy; accordingly, the association desires to encourage the use of such references in trade

catalogues and other advertising media, but the association

will in no case pass upon the merit of products, or upon their compliance with specifications or other standards ; which

questions it will leave to the commercial and legal agencies

equipped for such work.”

National Association of Builders Exchanges, at its 1929 convention, held in Youngstown, Ohio, adopted the following

resolution

“Resolved, That this association indorse the valuable work

being done by the National Committee on Wood Utilization in general, but particularly its work on grade marking of lumber and the handbook on wood construction, believing that

these two items will help materially in the elimination of ir- responsible and unscrupulous contractors and material men.”

National Association of Purchasing Agents, at its convention

held in Buffalo, N. Y., in June, 1929, adopted a resolution, pro- posed by the national committee on lumber, recommending

to its members that in the purchase of lumber, preference be

given to grade-marked stock, other things such as price,

quality and service being equal. National Builders’ Supply Association of the United States of America, through its executive committee, has adopted a reso- lution requesting the manufacturers of sewer pipe, hollow tile, flue lining, and coping to brand their products as to quality

as well as to identify it as to manufacture by trade-mark

or otherwise. Similar action was taken with reference to
228 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY JANUARY, 1931

wall board, requesting manufacturers both to trade-mark

and to grade-mark their products. National Paper Trade Association, at its 1930 convention, held

in Chicago, 111., adopted resolutions recommending to its membership that it request their manufacturers that they

identify by numbers, designs, and wording, paper bags, tissue paper, toilet paper and towels, gummed kraft paper, binders

board, and hard and soft fiber twine as conforming to the requirements contained in the simplified practice recommendations relating to these commodities. In accordance with these

resolutions the association’s secretary is instructed to furnish

members with suitable stickers to be affixed to their orders when purchasing any of the above merchandise, thus calling the above matter to the attention of the manufacturers.

National Tent and Awning Manufacturers Association at its 1930 annual convention adopted resolutions relating to definite standard practice for the marking of waterproof fabric products with a printed tag or stencil showing the actual gray

untreated fabric weight per square yard, and also for the marking of each cover or tent to show the commercial type

of fabric used. These resolutions have been referred to the National Bureau of Standards as a basis of cooperation for

the establishment of a commercial standard relating to these

items. Northeastern Retail Lumbermens Association, at its annual

convention held in New York City in January, 1930, adopted

the following resolution relating to the grade marking of lumber

“ Whereas the mixing or substitution of grades is a frequent cause of misunderstanding between buyer and seller, and leads

to condemnation of lumber as a building material on the part

of the consumer, be it “Resolved, That we reaffirm our condemnation of the practice of substituting or mixing of grades, whether by manufacturer, wholesaler, or retailer, as being dishonest, unfair,

and leading to vicious competition which defeats all efforts to create confidence in lumber as a building material. Particularly do we urge that manufacturers and wholesalers cease the practice of shipping No. 1 and No. 2 common fir dimension

as one grade of lumber. And be it further “Resolved, That we reaffirm our adherence to the principle

of grade marking and commend those manufacturers who are leading the way toward better conditions by grade marking

their lumber.”

ASSOCIATION LABORATORIES FOR RESEARCH AND TESTING

Among the national associations operating laboratories for aiding their members in developing high

quality materials and maintaining the standards of the

industry are organizations representing the laundry

owners, dyers and cleaners, dry goods merchants, and

sand and gravel producers.

Laundryowners National Association of the United States and

Canada controls and operates the American Institute of Laundering which provides complete facilities not only for research work, but also for a vocational training school in all depart- ments of laundering. It also contains a commercially oper- ated laundry for the purpose of making investigations in its efforts to develop more practical and efficient standards for the industry. National Association of Dyers and Cleaners of the United States and Canada maintains its own laboratories to provide facilities for research work into the fundamental problems for the dyers

and cleaners industry and to serve as a school for instruction whereby the standard practices developed by research can be taught to the trade.

National Retail Dry Goods Association maintains and operates

the Better Fabrics Testing Bureau as a service laboratory for

its member stores. National Sand and Gravel Association maintains a research and testing laboratory in which investigations are made of the products of member plants.

Several periodicals, such as Good Housekeeping

Magazine, Modern Priscilla, and Popular Science

Monthly, have set up specifications for various lines

of commodities and issue the equivalent of certificates of approval in the form of labels for trade-brand

articles meeting these specifications. Although issu- ing no certificates of approval, the Ladies Home

Journal is distributing a series of “ clearing house

leaflets ” devoted to specifications for many groups of

household commodities obtained from Government,

State, college, or research laboratory sources. These

give authoritative information to aid in the identification of quality-made goods.

NORWEGIAN STANDARDS COMMITTEE SUBMITS PROPOSALS FOR STANDARDIZATION

The Norwegian standardization committee has proposed the adoption of certain dimensional standards

of German origin, covering carriage bolts, counter- sunk screw with square head, countersunk screw with

slot, wheel bolt, screw eyes, bolts, and dowel pin.

An international proposal for standards - of molds

of pig iron has been submitted to the standardization

committees of the interested European countries. Although the Norwegian committee has approved the

principle of this proposal, the Norwegian standards

differ therefrom in some respects. For example, the

distance between the horns is longer in the Norwegian

standard than in the proposed international standard.

The foot also differs, as the English inches have been

converted into millimeters and rounded up to tens,

while the international proposal gives units of milli- meters. The distance between the rivet holes is identical on the Norwegian and the international proposal

so that the dolphins are interchangeable.

STANDARD METHODS FOR MEASURING BOYS’

SHIRTS ADOPTED

The National Bureau of Standards recently an- nounced the success of the recommended commercial

standard for boys’ blouses, button-on waists, shirts, and

junior shirts as determined by the receipt of written ac- ceptances representing a satisfactory majority of production. The standard is effective as of June 1, 1931. This commercial standard is the result of a cooperative effort on the part of representative manufacturers,,

distributors, and users, and covers the minimum

standard measurements to be used in the manufacture

of this commodity. The measurements apply to the

finished garment as delivered to the distributor, due

allowance being made for shrinkage.

Standard methods of measuring boys’ blouses for

ages 6 to 16 years, boys’ button-on waists for ages 3

to 10 years, junior shirts for ages 6 to 14 years, and

boys’ shirts with neck sizes from 12 to 144/2 inches

are set forth in the commercial standard which will

be issued in printed form in due course.
JANUARY, 1931 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 229

FEDERAL SPECIFICATIONS

Twenty Revisions and Four Proposals Announced

Twenty Federal specifications have been submitted

for revision and four proposals submitted for criticism

and comment, according to the Federal Specifications

Board. These specifications are now before the Government departments and others interested for com- ment and criticism.

The specifications submitted for revision also bear

the new designation in accordance with the system

used in the Federal Standard Stock Catalogue. Copies of the specifications and further information relat- ing thereto, can be obtained from the Federal

Specifications Board, National Bureau of Standards,

Washington, D. C.

SPECIFICATIONS UNDER REVISION

F. S. No. Commodity New desig- nation

213 270 Fire extinguishers, chemical, hand (soda-and-acid type).

Jelly O-F-355.

270 Preserves

270 Butter, apple. .. 339a Metals, general specifications for ... . . QQ-M-151.

381a Eggs ’ ... 381a Butter

381a

395-a-I

395-a-II

395-a-III

395-a-IV 395-a-V

Cheese, American (Cheddar or American Cheddar)

Wood-preservative, coal-tar creosote, for ties and structural timber. Wood-preservati ve, creosote, coal-tar solution, for ties and

structural timber. Wood-preservative, creosote, for brush and spray treat- ment.

Wood-preservative, zinc-chloride, for ties and structural timber. Wood-preservative, preservative treatment

417 Drills, breast GGG-D-651.

421 Mono methyl paraminophenol sulphate U-M-571.

427a Tubing, brass, seamless " T WW-T-791.

472a Thermometers, industrial. . ... GG-T-321.

579b Sugar JJJ-S-791. Jam Z-J-71.

644a Tapioca.. N-T-101.

PROPOSALS SUBMITTED FOR CONSIDERATION

Candy _ Butter, peanut

Couplings, steam hose

Couplings, garden hose, water hose. WW-C-636.

EXTRACTION OF BITUMINOUS SATURATED

FELTS STUDIED

Federal specifications for bituminous saturated felt for roofing and waterproofing purposes specify the

weight of the moisture-free desaturated felt per 100

square feet, and require a piece of felt 2 inches wide

and the full width of the roll (32 or 36 inches) to be

desaturated for this determination.

For several months the National Bureau of Standards has used Soxhlet-type extractors for this purpose

with very satisfactory results. The extraction tube

of the apparatus used is of sufficient length to accom- modate two samples rolled, and glass beads are added

with the samples to reduce the volume of solvent,

thus securing more frequent extractions per unit of

time.

The vapor tube is insulated by wrapping with as- bestos cord and the vapors are condensed in a watercooled, worm condenser. Heat is supplied by a small

electric hot plate and extractions are complete after

several hours. For felts carrying a large percentage

of bitumen the solvent should be changed after several extractions to prevent foaming. This method is economical of both time and solvent, it is in accord- ance with the specification directions, and has the

advantage of not exposing the operator to solvent

fumes during the extraction.

NEW METHOD FOR DETERMINING MAGNESIUM IN PORTLAND CEMENT

The maximum amount of magnesia (MgO) allowed

by the Federal specification la, and the standard

specification for Portland cement of the American

Society for Testing Materials, is 5 per cent (plus a tolerance of 0.4 per cent). Since a great deal of ce- ment is purchased under these specifications it follows

that many determinations of magnesia are required.

At present the phosphate method is standard, and

is quite accurate and proper for umpire analyses, but

it is rather lengthy. The precipitation of magnesium

by the reagent 8-hydroxyquinoline has been studied

at the National Bureau of Standards, and in the January number of its Journal of Research a method is rec- ommended for determining magnesium by use of this

reagent. The recommended procedure is accurate and

much more rapid than the standard phosphate method.

REGIONAL RECOMMENDATION FOR HIGHVOLATILE BITUMINOUS COAL

Suggests Merging Regional Simplification Projects Into a

Single National Program

In order to insure greater distribution of the information concerning the recommended schedule covering

the simplification of sizes and terminology of highvolatile bituminous coal, known as Regional Recommendation No. 1, the National Bureau of Standards

announces that the recommendation in now available

in printed form. It is officially designated as Bureau of Standards Miscellaneous Publication No. 113,

and may be obtained from the Superintendent of

Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington,

D. C., for 5 cents a copy.

This schedule applies only to high-volatile bitumi- nous coal handled over the docks at the American head

of the Great Lakes, and distributed mainly in the

States of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota,

Montana, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

To secure maximum results, simplification programs have been conducted on a national scale exclusively. Certain problems, however, notably in

connection with natural products, can not be effec- tively handled on a national scale until they have been

successfully solved within a limited area or region.

Such is the problem at present. Although a regional

program may be the source of a national simplified

practice recommendation, it should never be construed

as a local interpretation of a national program.

It is expected that this recommendation, applying

to a limited geographical area, will become nationally

known and will serve to stimulate the development of

similar regional projects which will eventually be

merged into a single national program. The National

Bureau of Standards will be glad to supply further

information on the subject.
230 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY JANUARY. 1931 CERTIFICATION BY LUMBER AND BRICK

MANUFACTURERS ASSURED

To Distribute Lists of Manufacturers Willing to Certify as to the Quality of Their Product

Lists of willing-to-certify softwood and hardwood

lumber manufacturers and wholesale lumber dealers

being compiled by the National Bureau of Standards

now contain the names of more than 1,900 firms. According to present plans these lists will be placed in

mimeograph form and distributed to all known retail lumber dealers, numbering in excess of 13,000.

Lists of willing-to-certify manufacturers (wholesale and retail lumber dealers) will be arranged as

“ sources of supply ” of softwood lumber complying

with American lumber standards and hardwood lumber complying with the grading and inspection rules

of the National Hardwood Lumber Association and

distributed to public purchasing officers, Federal,

State, county, and municipal agencies making purchases out of tax moneys.

More than 75 per cent of the 46 known manufacturers of sand-lime brick have expressed their desire

to supply brick guaranteed by them to comply with

Federal Specification No. 505. More than 450 manufacturers of common clay brick have stated that they

are willing to certify to comply with all of the re- cpiirements of Federal Specification No. 504. The survey of the brick industry has developed the

fact that under certain conditions in certain localities common clay brick somewhat larger or smaller than

the standard size (2)4 by 3% by 8 inches) is considered satisfactory, provided it complies with the specification requirements relating to strength and absorption. Arrangements have been made to list sources

of supply of both standard-size and nonstandard-size

bricks which meet the requirements of Specification

No. 504.

ELECTRICAL MOTOR AND GENERATOR

STANDARDS

Basic Standards as to Design and Construction Given in Revised Publication of National Electrical Manufacturers

Association

A revised edition of its motor and generator standards has been issued by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association as a reference work of practical

information on the manufacturer, test, performance,

and application of alternating-current and direct-cur- rent motors and generators, frequency converters,

and motor generator sets of small and large rated

capacities.

The book contains the latest basic standards on the

design and construction of motors and generators

which are the result of both research and experience.

In it are included a large number of definitions for

various classes of squirrel-cage induction motors and

other types of motors and generators; the simplified

practice recommendation on carbon brushes (developed under the auspices of the National Bureau of

Standards) ; minimum efficiencies, power factor, and

indicated starting currents for fractional horsepower

motors ; ratings for large power direct-current motors,,

elevator motors, and general-purpose motors; also- specification forms for alternating-current generators

and motors.

A large number of tables have been added for the

first time covering standard horsepower, speed ratings,

standard compressor applications, and factors for

large direct driving synchronous motors. An entire

section is devoted to the standard method of connections and marking of terminals for the various types

of motors and generators covered by the book.

Information regarding this book can be obtained

from the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, 420 Lexington Avenue, New York, N. Y.

Information regarding the simplified practice recom- mendation for carbon brushes and other simplified

practice recommendations and commercial standards can be obtained from the National Bureau of Standards, Washington, D. C.

PRIMARY STANDARD OF LIGHT

Specifications for Fundamental Standard Submitted to Vari- ous National Laboratories for Study and Comparison

At the meeting of the international advisory committee on electricity held in Paris last June, definite

specifications for a primary standard of light were

submitted on behalf of the United States. These pro- posals put into precise form a standard originally

suggested in 1908 by Dr. C. W. Waidner, deceased,

formerly chief of the heat division, and Dr. George

K. Burgess, associated with Dr. Waidner at that

time and now Director of the National Bureau of

Standards.

This standard of light has been developed and

studied at the National Bureau of Standards during

the past two years. It consists of a small closed tube

of refractory material (constituting a “ black body n

or ideal radiator) immersed in a crucible containing

platinum. In use, the platinum is melted by placing

the crucible in an induction furnace. The bottom of

the refractory tube assumes a temperature very nearly

equal to that of the platinum and emits light through

a small opening in the top; it is used as a standard

source of light only when the platinum is at the temperature of solidification. If the incandescent lamps, which have been used

up to the present time as standards to maintain the national unit of light were to be destroyed, it is felt that

the use of the Waidner-Burgess standard Avould make

it possible to recover the unit of candlepower with

far greater certainty than is given by any of the primary standards hitherto proposed.

After considering the United States proposal,’ the

advisory committee adopted resolutions requesting the

various national laboratories to examine the specifications for this standard of light submitted by the

National Bureau of Standards, and to give their

opinions concerning the practicability of adopting a

standard of this type.

o


SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL, AND COMMERCIAL

PERIODICAL PUBLICATIONS ISSUED BY THE

national BUREAU of standards

BUREAU OF STANDARDS

JOURNAL OF RESEARCH

The new Journal describes the bureau’s re- search results in science and technology. The

union of science and its applications in one

journal shortens the lag between discovery

and application.

All engaged in industry and commerce should

have available for current use and permanent

reference, the Bureau of Standards Journal of

Research.

Early in its firSt year the Journal developed a

liSt of paid subscribers double the anticipated

maximum.

This Journal is full of interest to executives

and technicians controlling industries and

commercial enterprises. It enables them bet- ter to promote efficiency by determining the

scientific measured controls ofprocess through

experimental and theoretical research.

Issued monthly

Subscription price, $2.75 per year

TECHNICAL NEWS BULLETIN

The Bureau of Standards periodical with a WAR RECORD! Started during the dark

days of 1917 to keep the Army and Navy and

other branches of the Government informed

of progress in scientific war research at the

bureau. Upon urgent request this publication was continued and expanded to serve the

Government, science, and industry.

The TECHNICAL NEWS BULLETIN will

keep you informed of current progress in the

scientific and technical work of the bureau’s

laboratories, and gives each month a liSt of

the publications of the bureau. A complete

cross index is published with the December

issue.

You can not afford to be without the TECHNICAL NEWS BULLETIN. Every article is short and to the point. The busiest executive can afford the time to read it.

'Or(

COMMERCIAL STANDARDS

MONTHLY

Issued monthly

Subscription price, 25 cents per year

STANDARDS YEARBOOK

FOR 1930

This new governmental periodical is a review

of progress in commercial simplification and

standardisation. It is the only journal of its kind. It covers the national movement ini- tiated by President Hoover for the reduction

of needless siz.es and varieties of products and

the promotion of voluntary commercial

Standardisation by industry.

The Secretary of Commerce in the firSt issue

of this new journal said: “Certain Standards,

such as those used for weights and measures,

* * * have been fixed by legislative enactment. Mandatory Standards of this character, however, are few in number when compared with the large and steadily growing

volume of Standards developed by industry

and commerce and voluntarily maintained.

* * * The activities of the Commercial

Standardisation Group of the Bureau of

Standards are concerned with Standards

adopted by voluntary agreement.”

Subscription price, $1 per year

The new Standards Yearbook for 1930 is the

fourth annual issue of a publication devoted

to the great and growing field of Standardisation in its broad aspeCts. It gives a summary

of progress.

Standardisation is a world-wide movement.

It covers all industries. It is part of the application of scientific methods to industry. Its achievements are of interest and concern to

business men and manufacturers as well as to

engineers. To the technician it is full of

example of methods and results of suggeStive

and Stimulating value. To business men it discloses trends which deeply concern their

interest.

NOW READY Price, 75c. ORDER AT ONCE

“Standardization is becoming an aspect of all well- ordered activity rather than an incidental

activity supplemental to others.”

To obtain regularly the above-described monthly Periodicals send your order, with remittance, addressed: Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. Foreign prices (countries other

than the United States and its possessions, Canada, Mexico, Newfoundland, Cuba, and Republic of Panama) are: Journal, $3.50; Bulletin, $0.40; Monthly, $1.25; Yearbook, $0.90
“ * * * 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. S. Department of Commerce, June 10, 1929 .

THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

R. P. LAMONT, Secretary of Commerce

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 air ports; 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 penal 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;

and publication monthly of Survey of Current Business. BUREAU OF FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC COMMERCE,

William L. Cooper, 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, 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 products in ah 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, George Iv. Burgess, 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. Testing of Government fuels and management of the Govern- ment Fuel Yard at Washington.

Research on helium and operatieflrof plants producing it.

BUREAU OF MINES—Continued.

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, Porto 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, Arthur J. Tyrer, Commissioner.

Superintendence of commercial marine and merchant seamenSupervision of registering, enrolling, licensing, numbering,

etc., of vessels under the United States flag, and the annual

publication of a list of such vessels. Enforcement of the navigation and steamboat inspection laws, including imposition of fees, fines, tonnage taxes, etc. STEAMBOAT INSPECTION SERVICE, Dickerson N. Hoover, Supervising Inspector General. The inspection of merchant vessels, including boilers, hulls, and life-saving equipment, licensing of officers of vessels, certifi- cation of able seamen and lifeboat men, 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. RADIO DIVISION, W. D. Terrell, Chief. Inspection of radio stations on ships; inspection of radio

stations on shore, including broadcasting stations; licensing radio operators; assigning station call letters; enforcing the terms of the International Radiotelegraphic Convention; and

examining and settling international radio accounts.

U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1931