Bureau of Sta.uda.rds

dec 2 3 1932

COMMERCIAL

STANDARDS

MONTHLY

cy

A Review of Progress in

Commercial Standardization and Simplification

am?**

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

ISSUED BY THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS OF THE UNITED

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

Vol. 9, No. 6 December, 1932

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C. $1.00 annually ($1.60 foreign); single copy, 10 cents
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

ROY D. CHAPIN, Secretary

BUREAU OF STANDARDS

LYMAN J. BRIGGS, Acting Director

COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY, S. F. Tillman, Editor

The Commercial Standardization Group

A. S. McALLISTER, Assistant Director

DIVISION OF SIMPLIFIED PRACTICE

Edwin W. Ely

The division of simplified practice cooperates with industrial and commercial groups to reduce waSte, usually through

eliminating unnecessary variety of produCt, method, or

practice. Its function is to bring together all parties inter- ested in a projeCl of this character, and to coordinate their

work in developing a simplified practice recommendation.

Such work includes surveys of current practice, formulation of a simplified pradtice program, and presentation of that program for adtion by a general conference representing

all interests. The division then transmits to all concerned

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

of acceptances is sufficient to indicate initial success, the

Department of Commerce indorses the program and publishes

the recommendation. The division thereafter cooperates

with a Standing committee appointed by the industry concerned, in condudting periodic surveys to determine the

degree of adherence, to maintain and extend support of the

recommendation, and to secure data for reaffirmation or

revision. Simplified pradtice may be applied to any commodity or adtivity in which it will reduce

waSte. The division Stands ready to render

service in developing and making effedtive any application of simplified pradtice which

will reduce waSte, Stabilize business, or extend commerce.

BUILDING AND HOUSING DIVISION

J. S. Taylor

The division of building and housing,

formed in 1921, cooperates with business,

technical, and professional groups in furthering conStrudlion adtivities. It works to modernize building codes and to encourage improved Standards for the quality of building conStrudlion, and the practical application of the lateSt development in design and use of building materials.

It encourages home ownership through the development

of an enlarged, Steadier, more intelligent, and more discriminating demand for dwellings—the largeSl single class of

buildings which the construction industries provide.

The division also cooperates with other governmental

agencies and with many private business and professional groups in efforts to distribute building adtivity more evenly

throughout the year and to secure less fludluation from

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

objective of making buildings more useful through proper

location with respedl to other Strudlures, Stabilizing of land

values and property uses, well coordinated thoroughfare

sySlems, and well laid out public works.

STANDARDIZATION

..IS.. A CONTINUING PROCESS

t ITS AIM IS NOT FIXITY OR STAGNATION

..BUT.. TO ADD SERVICEABILITY

AS OFTEN AS THE

POTENTIAL GAIN

MAKES IT WORTH WHILE

DIVISION OF SPECIFICATIONS

A. S. McAllister

The duties of the division of specifications are to promote

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

technical societies; trade associations; Federal, State, and

municipal Government specifications making and using

agencies; producers, distributors, and consumers; and teSling

and research laboratories. It ascertains the standardization

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

done by the commercial Standardization group. It brings the

Federal specifications and commercial Standards to the attention of the maximum number of producers and users of commodities complying with these Standards and specifications.

It compiles and distributes liSls of sources of supply of materials guaranteed to comply with the Standards and specifi- cations. It shows both buyers and sellers the benefits from

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

nongovernmental teSling laboratories and the Directory of

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

have been issued, namely, “Standards and

Specifications in the Wood-Using Industries”

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

aids in preparing the Standards Yearbook.

DIVISION OF TRADE STANDARDS

I. J. Fairchild

The division of trade Standards, on requeSl,

assists industrial and commercial groups in the voluntary establishment of Standards

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

basis for marketing manufactured commodities.

The detail criteria are selected or determined voluntarily

by interested buyers or sellers, without any Government

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

the composite views of all branches. The division functions

chiefly as a neutral agency to see that all interested elements

are given full opportunity to be heard and satisfied; to

solicit and record acceptances; and to publish and promulgate

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

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

Provision is made for regular revision of the Standard

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

in order that it may be kept constantly compatible with

progress in the industry.

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

A Review of Progress in

Commercial Standardization and Simplification

Volume 9 WASHINGTON, D. C., DECEMBER, 1932 Number 6

SUBJECT

BUILDING AND HOUSING (CONSTRUCTION)

Page

Application of simplified practice to the nonferrous in- dustries 134 Concrete building units 144 Forms for concrete joist-construction floors 133 Fuel oils 144

Simplification for asphalt reaffirmed 143 Standards for farm housing 136

Staple seats for water-closet bowls 144

Vitrified paving brick 138 Wind pressure on the Empire State Building 129 ELECTRICAL AND RADIO

Life-testing of electric lamps 125 Use of transmissions of standard radio frequencies 138 GLASS

Glass containers for mayonnaise and kindred products. _ 143

Life-testing of electric lamps 125 GROUP ACTIVITIES American Standards Association 141 Army-Navy aircraft standardization : 142

Federal specifications 126

Hospital standardization 137 Lack of uniformity in labor laws 144

Public health convention considers standardization 126

Standardization board appointed in Virginia 140

Standardizing the shipping container 130 INTERNATIONAL AND FOREIGN

British standard for train-lighting accumulators 138

Colors for gas cylinders 142 METALS

Application of simplified practice to the nonferrous in- dustries 134

ANALYSIS

METALS—Continued Page

Identification of simplified lines of woven-wire fencing in trade literature 124 New types of paper-testing equipment 143 Standardization of railroad equipment 140 Standard steel samples of known nitrogen content 140

Studies of properties of nonferrous metals 131 PAPER

Apple wraps 144 Ice-cream cups and cup caps 126 Paper cones and tubes 143 PUBLICATIONS

Apple wraps 144 Forms for concrete joist-construction floors 133 Ice-cream cups and cup caps 1 126 Standards for farm housing 136 Use of transmissions of standard radio-frequencies 138 Wool and part-wool blankets 142 QUALITY MARKS AND LABELS

Buying blankets 139

Colors for gas cylinders 142 Food grade labels meet growing favor 133

Identification of simplified lines of woven-wire fencing

in trade literature 124 Wool and part-wool blankets _ 142

TEXTILES AND RUBBER

Buying blankets 139 Purchasing rubber products 135

Textile research 127 Wool and part-wool blankets 142 WOOD

General conference on walnut veneers 140 Savings to naval stores industry 143

AN INVITATION TO VISIT THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS

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

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

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

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

modern arts and industries.

149305—32- 1 123
Identification of Simplified Lines

of Wonen-Wire Fencing in

Trade Literature

A LL OF THE producers of woven-wire fencing who have accepted simplified practice recommendation No. 9-28, have expressed their

jL JL intention to extend their present methods of identifying the simplified lines by the use of specific statements in catalogues and other trade

literature. For several years past some manufacturers of this commodity

have been attaching tags to their rolls of fencing to show that they conform

to this recommendation.

Many national associations representing users of simplified commodities

have for some time Strongly urged that this policy be adopted by manufacturers who have accepted the various simplified pradtice recommendations.

The general adoption of the identification plan should assist the woven-wire

fencing industry in maintaining close adherence to the waste elimination

program. Cooperation by distributors, buyers, users, and others will

greatly increase the benefits and economies possible through simplified practice. When the simplified lines are so designated in trade literature their

selection can be made without difficulty and much waste now incurred in

checking files and auxiliary records for these data is eliminated.

The woven-wire fencing recommendation, which was proposed and developed by the industry in 1923, and subsequently revised in 1928, has been

instrumental in reducing the number of Styles of this commodity from 552

to 69, or approximately 89 per cent, and the number of sffies of woven-wire

fence packages from 2,072 to 138, or approximately 93 per cent.

Manufacturers of the other 140 commodities, for which simplified practice

recommendations have been developed, have recently commenced identifying in their catalogues those products which conform to the simplified lists.
DECEMBER, 1932 COMMERCIAL, STANDARDS MONTHLY 125

LIFE TESTING OF ELECTRIC LAMPS

Description Given of Methods Used at Bureau of Standards for Life Testing of Incandescent Lamps to Determine Their Efficiency

The Federal Government is a large purchaser of

incandescent electric lamps for use in post offices, customhouses, on board battleships and cruisers, in

Army posts, in navy yards, in hospitals and schools,

and in the Federal buildings.

During the fiscal year ended June 30, 1932, incandescent lamps of a value exceeding $800,000 were bought

from four contractors for furnishing lamps to the

Federal Government. Of the lamps purchased, approximately 2,000,000 were inspected at the factories

of the contractors, and samples were selected for

measurements and burning tests in the laboratories of

the Bureau of Standards to check their compliance

with specification requirements. This article describes

briefly the methods of factory inspection and subsequent measurements and tests made at the Bureau of

Standards.

The Federal specification designated as “ WL—101,

Lamps; Electric, Incandescent, Large, Tungsten Filament,” forms the basis on which the General Supply

Committee of the Treasury Department awards annual

contracts for the supply of lamps to all executive departments and independent establishments of the Federal Government. A supplement to the specification

is issued annually so that changes in lamp efficiencies,

bulb sizes, etc., as made from time to time by the

manufacturers, can be quickly brought into the specification. Under the terms of the specification and annual supplements, lamps are inspected and samples for

life test are selected by a Government inspector at the

factories of the contractors. An incandescent lamp is a device that consumes

electrical energy and produces light. The user of the

lamp is interested in a minimum electrical power

input to the lamp, a maximum light output of the

lamp, and a maximum useful life of the lamp. The

electrical power input is measured in watts, the light

output in lumens, and the life in hours. The ratio of

the light output (in lumens) to the power input (in

watts) is called the efficiency of the lamp, and it is expressed in lumens per watt. The electric-lamp

industry long ago adopted a system of designating

lamp sizes by the electrical input, in watts, at a chosen

voltage. Lamps are labeled in watts and volts; for

example, a very commonly used size of lamp is a 40-watt lamp, marked on the bulb, 40W, 115V. A. similar lamp might be marked 40W. 110V and another

40W, 120V. These three lamps if properly marked

are equal in power input, if operated on electrical

circuits of 115, 110, and 120 volts, respectively, but

not under any other conditions. They may or may

not be equal in light output, efficiency, lumen maintenance, and life. Under the terms of the Federal specification the

contractor agrees to supply lamps, which, when measured initially at marked voltage, will consume 25 or 40

or 100 watts, as the case may be, will produce a certain

specified number of lumens (light output), an initial

efficiency not less than a specified minimum, and if burned at marked voltage will have an average life of

a specified number of hours, and will maintain during

that life a specified percentage of the initial light

output.

An inspector employed by the Government visits the

factories of the contractors at regular intervals and

makes physical, mechanical, and photometric inspections and tests on the lamps submitted by the contractor to fill orders for lamps placed by the various

purchasing officers of the Government departments.

If the measurements made by or at the request of the

inspector in the contractor’s plant, or the physical

inspection of a definite selection of samples, show that more than a specified number of lamps falls outside

the limits set in the specification, then all the lamps

of the lot from which the inspection samples were

selected are rejected, and the contractor must offer another lot of lamps for inspection and measurement.

If a lot of lamps inspected is accepted, samples are sent to the Bureau of Standards for further test. The

samples selected by the Government lamp inspector

life test are delivered to the testing laboratory at the

Bureau of Standards, with the data on each lamp, as supplied to the inspector by the contractor. The data consist of a statement by the contractor of

the efficiency at which each lamp was designed to operate, and the results of measurements made in the

presence of the inspector at the contractor’s plant on

each sample lamp.

Each lamp received for life test is measured in the

life-test laboratory at manufacturer’s marked voltage,

for lumens and watts, and the corresponding lumens

per watt computed. The photometric measurements

are made by means of a 60-inch sphere' photometer,

with photo-electric cell auxiliary photometric equipment. The electrical measurements are made by means

of a potentiometer. The measurements are compared

with the measurements supplied by the contractor and

inspector, and the lamp is then ready for life test on burning racks.

The life of incandescent lamps is an arbitrary number of hours established by the lamp manufacturers.

It is the number of hours the manufacturer selects as commercially desirable, both for the user and manufacturer. It may be 1,500, 1,350, 1,000, 200, 100, 50, or

5 hours for particular types or sizes of lamps, when

operated at labeled or marked voltage. A voltage

higher than marked voltage, when applied to a lamp,

will shorten its life; a lower voltage will give longer

life; all compared to the life chosen by the maker as normal life at the design efficiency of the lamps. A 1 per cent increase or decrease in the applied voltage

is known to change the life of lamps by approximately

13 per cent. It is therefore highly essential that the

voltage applied to lamps in life testing should be care- fully regulated. At the Bureau of Standards the

voltage applied to lamps on life-test racks is regulated

to a maximum variation of about 0.2 volt. Any volt- age within the whole range of voltages available from

the transforming and distribution equipment for life testing can be applied to the lamps on any burning
126 COMMERCIAL, STANDARDS MONTHLY DECEMBER, 1932

rack, but all the lamps on one rack are burned at the same voltage. The racks are so designed that if lamps

burn out on the racks the change in voltage is negligible. The voltage on each rack is checked at frequent

intervals and adjustments made, if necessary. Each lot of lamps is burned on the testing racks,

not, at marked voltage, but at the voltages required to operate the lamps at a predetermined efficiency, usually

the efficiency required by the specification. In so- called forced tests this efficiency is increased so, as to shorten the burning time, but all results are computed

to specification requirements. After a certain number

of hours’ burning, known as the photometric interval,

determined by the size and type of lamp under test and

the requirements of the specification, photometric

readings are made at initial marked voltage. At the

end of the second photometric interval, another reading is made, and so on until each lamp fails. From

the data thus obtained the average life and the lumen

maintenance during life, of the lamps comprising a

lot undergoing test, are computed. Lamps may fail on

the racks while burning, or during handling, or while

being measured on the photometer. Each lamp is in- dividually considered in computing the final average

life and lumen maintenance of the test lot. Approximately 3,000 lamps were tested during the fiscal year

ended June 30, 1932.

An annual summary of test results on all contractors’ lamps is prepared for the use of the General

Supply Committee and purchasing officers of Government departments and independent establishments.

The results of the tests are not available for use by the contractors in advertising or selling their particular

brands of lamps.

PUBLIC HEALTH CONVENTION CONSIDERS

STANDARDIZATION

Standardization and its relation to public health

formed an important part of the various subjects con- sidered by the 1932 annual meeting of the American

Public Health Association, held October 21 to 27, at Washington, in conjunction with the annual confer- ence of State sanitary engineers.

Speaking on More Uniformity and Reliability of

Records, Dr. Harold B. Wood, of the Pennsylvania

State Department of Health, pointed out that while

morbidity and mortality records are slowly improving, their completeness and accuracy are still far dis- tant. He said that a uniform method of ending the

morbidity and mortality tabulation periods is needed

to overcome the inclusion of the events of one year in

the records of another. Doctor Wood urged all registrars who tabulate the causes of death to use the International Classification of Causes of Death, including the official coding selection system.

The Standardization of Diagnostic Reagents, was

the subject of a paper delivered by John F. Norton, of

the Michigan State Department of Health, in which he

pointed out that the laboratory section of the American Public Health Association has for more than 25

years been actively interested in the standardization

of certain laboratory procedures. According to Mr.

Norton this standardization of technic has had a wholesome effect on public health laboratory work.

In making its 1932 report the joint committee of the

two conferences on swimming pools and bathing places

stated that the committee had previously suggested

comprehensive standards for swimming-pool design

and maintenance which were published in 1926. In- asmuch as these standards are now of several }tears’

standing, the committee deemed it advisable to seek

the advice of interested groups as to the practical application of the standards. Reports received by the

committee showed that State regulations on the design

and maintenance of swimming pools, as well as regulations in effect in many cities, generally follow very

closely the recommendations of the committee. Some

differences in bacteriological standards exist, according to the survey, but no major discrepancies were

reported.

FEDERAL SPECIFICATIONS

Seventeen specifications were acted on by the Federal Specifications Board during the month of November. Of this number, eight proposed specifications

and nine revisions have been sent out for official com- ment and criticism. Copies of these specifications are available in mimeographed form, and further information can be obtained from the Federal Specifications Board, Bureau of Standards, Washington, D. C.

New designation Specifications proposed Old

F.S.B.

No.

AA-B-201.

Cutlery, galley, kitchen. . . . . . ... .

186a

99

Bands, paper, shirt, laundry ... Hooks, chain . ______

Tissue toilet paper ... .. .... ... . . . ... .. Paper towels ... . . . . Packing, asbestos, rod, braided.. ... Belting, conveyor (friction surface).. . Belting, conveyor, rubber covered..

Specifications to be revised

Beds, hospital _____ _ _ __ HH-P-71

HH-P-126a

HH-P-131a

ZZ-C-191 ZZ-H-491a

Packing, metallic, flexible ____ ___ Packing, metallic and nonmetallic, plastic Cement, rubber (for) medical rubber goods ... Hose, pneumatic.. __

223

ZZ-P-51 Pads, surgical-operating _ 230b

231a

237 ZZ-P-361 ZZ-T-791 Tubes, lavage or stomach ;

ICE-CREAM CUPS AND CUP CAPS

Simplified Practice Recommendation No. 132-32,

Ice-Cream Cups and Cup Caps, is now available in printed form, and copies can be obtained from the

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

5 cents each.

This simplification program, which was proposed

and formulated by the industry, has been the medium

by which the number of capacities of the so-called

5-cent cup has been reduced from 4 to 1 ; the one- fourth pint (known as the 10-cent size) from 5 shapes

to 1, and cap diameters from 3 to 1; the half-pint

cup from 3 shapes to 1, and cap diameters from 5 to 2; the pint cup from 2 shapes to 1, and cap diameters

from 5 to 2 ; and the quart cup from 2 shapes to 1, and cap diameters from 2 to 1.
DECEMBER, 1932 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 127

TEXTILE RESEARCH

Studies Conducted at Bureau of Standards Are of Vital Concern to Consumers and Manufacturers Alike

By Miss R. K. Worner, Bureau of Standards

This is the last of a series of articles describing the activities of the textile section of

the Bureau of Standards. In these articles

the author described the work of the textile

section and its relationship to the producing,

distributing, and consuming elements of the

industry.

The facilities of the Bureau of Standards for textile work are unusually complete, and make possible

studies both of a theoretical and a practical nature. The processes that are carried out in a commercial

cotton mill from the time the cotton is received in the

bale until it is woven or knit into cloth can be duplicated and studied under carefully controlled conditions. Commercial practice in laundering and dry cleaning can be duplicated. Dyeing equipment and ap- paratus for testing fastness to light and washing of

colored textiles are available. A large room, which

is maintained at a relative humidity of 65 per cent and a temperature of 70°

F., is provided for experiments and tests, the re- sults of which are affected

by these conditions. In

addition to the usual

equipment to be found in

chemical a n d physical

laboratories for the study

of textiles, there is available much special equipment that has been developed and built at the bureau. Well-equipped

photographic, microscopic, and X-ray laboratories

are maintained.

Textile research may be divided into two categories—that of a purely academic and that of a practical | or technological nature. Some examples of pure aca- demic textile at the Bureau of Standards are a study

of the deterioration of silk by light, the measurement

of the isoelectric points of silk and wool, and a study

of the stress-strain relations of rayons and other fibers. Although silk is one of the strongest textile fibers known, it deteriorates rapidly when exposed to stronglight. The purely academic study of the photochemical decomposition of silk recently carried out at the

bureau showed that the amount and rate of deterioration of silk depend upon its acidity or alkalinity.

Silk on the alkaline side of neutrality is much more

stable in light than silk on the acid side. Since silk

is usually finished in a slightly acid solution, this re- sult is of very practical significance. It indicates that

by proper chemical control of the finishing bath, the

stability of silk to be exposed to strong light; for

example, silk for window curtains, may be materially

increased.

The measurement of the isoelectric points of silk and

wool is another academic study recently completed at the Bureau of Standards which has revealed new possibilities for the improvement and control of textiles

made from these fibers. When silk or wool is immersed in water or in an aqueous solution the fiber becomes electrically charged. The charge is positive

or negative, depending upon the acidity or alkalinity

of the solution. At a particular acidity, which is different for silk and wool, the fiber is electrically neutral. This is the isoelectric point of the fiber. It is of

great importance to the mill which is scouring, dyeing, fulling, and wet finishing these fibers and to laundrymen because the fiber is most stable at its iso- electric point and accordingly least liable to damage.

A tool of the physical chemist called the electrophoresis cell heretofore not applied to textiles, made possible the exact measurement of the isoelectric points

of wool and silk. With this cell not only can the iso- electric point of a fiber be determined, but the amount

of the electrical charge on the fiber when placed in so- lutions of different acidities and alkalinities can be

evaluated. This has an intimate theoretical bearing on

the way in which textile

fibers combine with dyestuffs or give up impurities when scoured or laundered. Accordingly it is confidently expected that

the application of the

electrophoresis cell to these questions will result in practical developments

which can not at present

be clearly visualized.

Textiles are under tension in various stages of manufacture and during use. They must stand repeated

loading and unloading. Loads are applied when the

textiles are wet, in processing or laundering, and when

they are dry. Under these conditions they stretch and,

if the load has not been too great or applied for too long a tiirfe, they return to their original dimensions.

The relation of the load to the elongation, the stress to the strain, is represented graphically in a stress- strain curve. The Bureau of Standards has made

systematic studies of the stress-strain relations of textiles. The work on rayon is particularly significant

because rayon is much weaker and more plastic when

it is wet than when it is dry. Special equipment for

testing yarns and cloth where it is actually immersed

in a liquid during the test has been designed and built. The results of this work are, of course, available to anyone who has use for them.

The technological investigations of textiles include

studies of the application of the results of fundamental research to practical mill finishing or maintenance problems, studies of the relation of the fabric

and yarn construction and finish to the properties of

the finished yarn or fabric, and the development of

fabrics having the optimum properties for a specific

purpose.

The twist in rayon yarns, which varies from a few

turns per inch up to, perhaps, 100 turns in some crepe

yarns, affects a number of properties of the yarn. A

study of these effects of twist has been made. The

results are of importance in predicting the utility and

durability of fabrics made from these yarns. The

contraction in length resulting from twisting is of

importance to the Treasury Department which allows
128 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY DECEMBER, 1932

a rebate on rayon yarn imported into the country if

it is reexported. Accordingly, the contraction occur- ring during the conversion of the yarn into cloth must

be calculated.

To obtain basic data on the effect of yarn and fabric

construction on the properties of cotton materials,

studies are in progress on the relation of yarn twist

to the strength, stretch, diameter, and angle of twist

of the yarns, and of yarn twist and of fabric construction on the strength, stretch, tear resistance, and air permeability of fabrics. The results of these studies

will make it possible to design and construct fabrics

having predetermined desirable properties.

The development of fabrics for aeronautical purposes presents a number of problems which the Bureau of Standards has studied at the request of, and

in cooperation with, the National Advisory Committee

for Aeronautics. It is important that aeronautical

fabrics, such as parachute cloth, the cloth used for the outer cover and gas cells of dirigibles, and airplane

wing cover cloth have a minimum weight for the re- quired strength and that they have high resistance to

tear. To find out how to produce such fabrics, a comprehensive study wa,s made of the relation between the

kind of yarn used and the weave of cotton fabrics and

their physical properties.

One result of this study ivas the production of a cotton parachute cloth in the bureau’s experimental

cotton mill. Practical service tests conducted by the

Navy Department of parachutes made from this cloth

has shown it to be serviceable and reliable. In the

event of an emergency curtailing the supply of silk,

all of which is imported, parachutes can be made from

the domestic fiber. More than 50 per cent of the parachutes used by commercial aviators are, in fact, now

made of cotton. The Bureau of Standards is attacking the problem

of mercerization from a new angle. Ordinary commercial mercerization is concerned with the luster and

appearance of the cloth. Isolated experiments indicated that by mercerizing cotton yarns and fabrics

under suitable conditions, an increase in strength

might be obtained. All of the factors of the mercerizing process were studied systematically. The results of the experimental work, which is nearing completion, indicate that the strength for a given weight may

be materially increased by proper control of conditions during mercerization.

Although the studies just described refer primarily

to aeronautical fibers, the results are applicable to general mill practice. In these studies not only has

a mass of pertinent data been assembled on the rela- tion of the construction to the properties of a cloth,

but a number of methods for testing the properties of

cloth have been developed. The results are of general

interest to the textile industry.

Many controversial statements may be found in the

literature on the advantages of the different types of

fabrics for clothing. To obtain specific data on the

relation between the construction and properties of

underwear fabrics, a research associate representing

the Associated Knit Underwear Manufacturers of

America, working under the direction of the bureau,

examined approximately 100 different typical commercial knit fabrics with reference to the details of their

construction and properties, particularly such properties as air permeability, behavior toward moisture,

and warmth, which are closely related to the comfort

and health of individuals. The resulting data should

make it possible for manufacturers to design under- wear fabrics to meet any requirements which may be

found to be desirable by health authorities or users. The problem of the selection and utility of silk fabrics likewise concerns both the manufacturer and the consumer. At the request of the American Home

Economics Association, the Bureau of Standards is studying typical silk dress fabrics purchased in vari- ous parts of the country and made up into dresses by

home economics students. Samples of the neiv fabrics

have been tested and the garments are being examined

from time to time during their life. The results obtained to date indicate that while lack of fastness to light and to washing and a tendency of the yarns to

slip are the chief factors limiting the life of the

fabric, in a number of instances the serviceability of

the garment is not limited by the quality of the fabric,

but by the unsatisfactory design of the dress or shift- ing styles. It will be noted from this outline that there exists

a very close interrelation of these various textile activities of the Bureau of Standards. The problem of

evaluating a particular fabric for a specific purpose

creates the need for the development of adequate test methods. These in turn make possible further studies

of the relation of the construction of yarns and fabrics

to their utility and durability. The studies suggest

ways for improving fabrics intended for specific uses, and for developing suitable ones when the need arises. A considerable amount of the work described might

be considered in the light of interpreter for consumer and manufacturer. The manufacturer is constantly

striving to make a fabric with improved or novel characteristics for a given purpose. The consumer is in- terested primarily in the utility of the fabric. However, there has been no common basis for understanding what a fabric of a particular construction will do

in service, and accordingly a feeling of mutual distrust

has developed between buyer and seller. The work

of the Bureau of Standards in interpreting construction in terms of serviceability, lias already done much

to break down this barrier and to stimulate a spirit

of cooperation and friendliness between the producer

and the consumer. Having a totally unbiased point of

view, the bureau is in a particularly advantageous position to act as intermediary and interpreter. The need

for establishing such cooperative relations and the

benefits to be derived therefrom can not be overemphasized.

The series of articles on the work of the textile sec- tion of the Bureau of Standards, of which this is the

last, points out how the textile section keeps in close contact with the activities and interests of all who are concerned with the technical aspects of textiles, including governmental, industrial, scientific, technical, and

consumer groups.

As a result of these contacts, it is uniquely fitted to act as a clearing house for information and to bring

together individuals or groups having a common interest or problem. Many letters and visitors come to the

laboratory for technical information relating to textiles. Some of the queries are answered directly.

Others are referred to the proper source for the in- formation, perhaps to commercial testing laboratories

equipped to carry out tests, or to manufacturers of
DECEMBER, 1932 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 129

equipment, or to individuals or companies that have

had special experience in solving the particular problem involved, or to the vast literature on textiles.

Thus, the Bureau of Standards serves to link to- gether the research, producing, distributing, and con- suming branches of the textile industry.

WIND PRESSURE ON THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING

Bureau of Standards Conducts Tests on 5-Foot Model of Famous Empire State Building

By H. L. Dryden, Bureau of Standards 1

When the Empire State Building was constructed

in New York City provision was made through

the cooperation of architects, engineers, and owners

to have the building serve as a laboratory for obtaining more accurate knowledge of wind pressure. Under the direction of the committee on research

of the American Institute of Steel Construction, 30

pipes were placed at the thirty-sixth, fifty-fifth, and

seventy-fifth floors, transmitting the pressure from

small openings in the exterior faces of the building to

accessible places on each floor. In addition, some of

the steel columns under the tower portion of the building on the twenty-third floor were provided with

strain gages for determining strains in the columns

due to wind. Instruments for measuring the direction and velocity of the wind were mounted on the top

of the building.

The forecasting of the wind pressure to be expected on a building has many of the aspects of a game of

chance. It is practically certain that the speed of the

wind will exceed 5 miles per hour at some time during

every day of the year. In Washington, D. C., the

speed will exceed 10 miles per hour about four times a year. It has not blown at a speed of 100 miles per hour

at Washington, D, C., in the 60 years or so that record's are available. It is a practical impossibility to design

all buildings to withstand the maximum speeds which

have ever been experienced anywhere. The engineer

must draw the line at some speed which is not likely

to be exceeded in the life of the building. To obtain

information of this kind from direct observations on a building would require years of measurements, and a

statistical study of the results. Moreover, the results would not necessarily be applicable to some other

building of a different shape.

The only long-continued observations on the wind

are those made In- the Weather Bureau. These observations give the wind speeds, and to determine the

pressure on the building, the relation between the

pressure and the speed must be known. The method

of obtaining this relation, which is now coming into use is that of making measurements on models in a wind tunnel, a device in which artificial winds may be

produced. Although the method of model testing is well known in hydraulics and aeronautics and has been

found invaluable, it is new to structural engineers.

Full confidence has not been placed in the results, be- cause of some feeling of uncertainty as to the application to buildings in the natural wind.

When the program of the American Institute of

Steel Construction, to be carried out on the Empire

State Building, was announced, the Bureau of Stand-

-

1 Abstract of a paper given before the Philosophical Society of Washington, Nov. 5, 1932.

arcls saw an opportunity to demonstrate the utility

and validity of model measurements. Owing to busi- ness conditions, the measurements on the actual building had to be postponed, but experiments have been

completed on a model of the building at the Bureau of

Standards. When the results on the actual building

are finally available, comparisons can be made.

The Empire State Building is 1,250 feet high; the

model is 5 feet high. On this scale the height of a man

would be a little more than one-quarter inch. The

model is built of aluminum plates to follow the exterior

shape of the building, omitting minor irregularities

of the surface. It does not represent the actual building in material, method of construction, or strength.

It is not tested to failure, but is used only for measure- ments of wind pressure. Small holes in the outer walls

are connected by rubber tubing to a pressure gage.

The air near the surface of the model pushes on the

air in the rubber tubing with the same pressure as on

the neighboring solid wall of the model. The pres- sure is transmitted to a gage where it is balanced by

the weight of a column of liquid. In some tests the

model was mounted in bearings and the overturning

moment measured.

The artificial wind was produced in the 10-foot wind

tunnel of the bureau, in which speeds up to 70 miles

per hour may be obtained.

Under normal conditions, with no wind blowing,

the surfaces, both interior and exterior, of all buildings are subjected to the normal atmospheric pressure

of 14.7 pounds per square inch. When the wind

blows, this pressure is modified. In some places the

pressure increases, in others it decreases by amounts

which usually do not exceed a few tenths of a pound

per square inch. When the pressure is reduced below the

normal atmospheric pressure, the effect is often called

a suction. The results on the model of the Empire

State Building show, as for other models tested, that

the pressure varies greatly from point to point and that

suction effects predominate. The greatest loads on the

building occur when the wind blows directly against one face. The average pressure is of the order of 35

to 40 pounds per square foot at a wind speed of 100

miles per hour. At other wind speeds the pressure

varies as the square of the speed; that is, at 50 miles

per hour, it is only 9 or 10 pounds per square foot. It was found that the speed of the air rushing by,

close to the building, is greater than that of the ap- proaching wind. Thus the instrument on the building gives a speed about 25 per cent greater than the

speed of the wind approaching the building.

The detailed results, giving charts of the distribution of pressure with the wind striking the model from

different directions, will be published in a few months

as a research paper of the Bureau of Standards.
130 COMMERCIAL, STANDARDS MONTHLY DECEMBER, 1932 STANDARDIZING THE SHIPPING CONTAINER

Methods of the Freight Container Bureau in Handling Work in This Field

By Edward Dahill 1

The Freight Container Bureau is an organization

founded and maintained by the American Railway

Association. It was organized June 27, 1921, for the

express purpose of making a scientific study of the

various types of containers used in the shipment of

different commodities so as to eliminate as far as possi- ble any economic waste which might be attributed to faulty packing or inefficient containers. These studies were to be confined to containers used in the shipment

of nondangerous articles. In carrying out the instructions of the board of

directors of the American Railway Association, a highly trained staff of graduate engineers was engaged

to conduct the various studies which were to be

undertaken. These engineers, who at the present time

are seven in number, are under the personal direction

of a chief engineer, who in turn reports to a joint committee of cooperation. This joint committee is composed of officers of various railroads or their agencies

and consists of 3 traffic men, 3 transportation men, 3

claim-prevention men, 3 classification men, and 1 rep- resentative from Canada. The classification committees are represented by the chairman of each of the

classification territories, and A. H. Greenly, of the

official classification territory, is chairman of the joint

committee. The Freight Container Bureau is under

the personal direction of the writer.

The following procedure is usual in making a study

of a problem. The engineer who has been given the

assignment makes preliminary visits to the various

industries or shippers involved and if these industries

are organized in associations, both local and national

in nature, he contacts the secretaries of these various

associations, arranges to appear before their meetings

and explain the object of the work which is to be

undertaken, and requests their assistance and cooperation. He asks that the interested trade associations

appoint a committee to work along with him. He ex- plains to them the advantages of standardization in

methods of packing and container construction, how

crates, for example, of a standard construction will

work out to their advantage and how the adoption

of such a standard, while adding protection, will not

increase the production cost, and as a general rule

will cost less than the methods which are then being

used by the various members of their association.

The engineer again visits the various manufacturers,

not only those connected with the trade association

but the independent manufacturers, both large and

small. Their methods of crating are studied, photographs are taken, and suggestions are made in the

various plants as to how their individual crating practices might be improved. The results of these visits are summarized and the information obtained is then

carefully analyzed.

Freight and transfer stations are visited and the

methods of handling the freight are observed. When

1 Chief engineer. Freight Container Bureau, American Railway

Association.

occasion requires, test shipments are made with impact recorders placed in the car so as to determine the

handling of the car en route during the normal process

of transportation. This in a way will determine

whether the container has failed as a result of inherent

weaknesses or careless handling in transit. Before

concluding his study, the engineer will visit various

representative consignees to observe the condition in which the purchases are received, to find out what

their troubles are and obtain their ideas as to how

they believe the merchandise which they purchase

should be packed so as to reduce to a minimum the

possibility of its becoming damaged. By these means

a correct picture is obtained as to what the containers

must actually be able to withstand under present-day

freight movement.

Tentative specifications are then drawn up, which

specifications are gone over thoroughly with a committee which has been appointed by the interested

industries. The revised draft is then submitted to the various industries and carriers whose comments,

if warranted, are incorporated in the final draft. The

final draft is then passed upon by the joint committee

of cooperation and issued in an illustrated pamphlet

form and widely distributed among all interested

parties, including the shippers and carriers in order

that all may have the benefit of these recommendations. From time to time the Freight Container Bureau

releases bulletins and pamphlets containing recom- mendations and information as to certain commodities

that are causing the shippers and carriers a considerable amount of trouble and how they should be pre- pared for shipment. These recommendations are re- vised from time to time in order to adjust them to changed conditions which may have developed in

the container and transportation field. Up to the present time, some of the principal studies

carried on by the bureau have involved the packing

and containers, and sometimes loading methods, for

various kinds of fresh fruits and vegetables, stoA^es, household and commercial refrigerators, various types

of new furniture, eggs, store fixtures, crockery, glass- ware, boots and shoes, machinery, sewer pipe, monuments, enameled iron sanitary ware, and vitreous

china sanitary ware. There have been numerous

short studies made involving many other commodities

on which typewritten or mimeographed reports only

have been prepared for the information of those di- rectly interested. Besides these principal and particular studies, the bureau carries on much educational

field work in the perishable producing territories, acts as a clearing house for information on loading

methods and containers and gives what has proven

to be most helpful to the shippers, the services of

their engineers without charge, on specific shipping

problems.
DECEMBER, 1932 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 131

STUDIES OF PROPERTIES OF NONFERROUS METALS

Investigations of Alloy Values and Commercial Uses Conducted by Bureau of Standards

By H. S. Rawdon, Bureau of Standards

Extensive fundamental studies have been conducted

by the Bureau of Standards on the optical properties

of materials, that is, the emissive, absorptive, and re- flective properties. Many of these have been made

with a direct commercial application in view, in

other cases an immediate application was not foreseen. For example, the results of researches on

opacity of colored glasses to ultra-violet radiation lay

“ in storage ” for six years when a sudden telephone

call for just this information came from the Navy

Department. Means of protecting the eyes of workmen from ultra-violet and infra-red rays were ur- gently needed in the war-time fabrication of ships by

welding. This work has

been carried much further

since and the bureau has

cooperated with manufacturers in the commercial

development of suitable

glasses of this kind, and a Federal specification cov- ering such glasses is now

in effect. Similar work

has recently been carried

out on window glass which

is required to transmit

ultra-violet radiation. The relative efficiencies of dif- ferent metals in the form of electrodes for arcs or as incandescent filaments as sources of ultra-violet radiation have also been studied.

Many studies have been made of the reflective properties of metals, such as aluminum, chromium, monel

metal, zinc, etc., the results of which have found practical application in connection with the mirrors of

therapeutic lamps and reflectors for searchlights and

airport illuminators.

The results of studies of the optical properties of

metallic (aluminum-pigmented) paint have found numerous industrial applications.

The furnishing of technical information to industry on the various commercial nonferrous metals has developed into a line of activity of very considerable

importance. Although a great deal of work may have

been done by numerous investigators on a material,

the results are, in general, available only to the specialist. A number of circulars of information on the

commercial metals have been prepared summarizing

the information available in the technical literature as well as the results of such bureau work as may have

been done. The latest one of these treats of the metal

zinc and its alloys. Previous ones have dealt with

copper, nickel, aluminum, magnesium, and light alloys.

Although practically all of the investigative metallurgical work is carried out with the aim of improving

the materials studied, a specific and immediate industrial application can not always be foreseen. Some

typical metallurgical researches on nonferrous metals

are summarized briefly below

Great quantities of the nonferrous metals are used

in the cast condition and a number of studies have been

149305—32 2

Last month the author began a description

of the work of the Bureau of Standards as

it relates to nonferrous metals and minerals,

which is concluded in this issue of Commercial Standards Monthly. The Bureau of

Standards will be only too glad to furnish more detailed information on any part of the

work.

made relating to problems arising in the use of nonferrous metals in the foundry. Methods and apparatus for the testing, grading, and evaluating of foundry

sands have been worked out, valuable cooperation being given by the American Foundrymen’s Association.

A practical method for determining the running properties of metals as in complex foundry molds, such as can be carried out by the foundryman himself, has been

developed and found very useful in the making of nonferrous castings. The behavior of metals in shrinking

upon cooling after casting is a matter of great practical importance to the foundryman. The results of

studies just completed throw much light on this problem. The problem of supplying nonferrous casting

alloys in ingot form is be- coming increasingly complicated on account of the numerous and “ fancy 55 compositions now on the

market or specified by

users on insufficient evi- dence. It is expected that

a current research in which the Non-Ferrous

Ingot Metals Association

is cooperating will do much toward the elimination of

many of these apparently needless stringent requirements by the establishment of standard alloys of

known properties and by showing the effect on the properties of such alloys of slight variations in composition.

The subject of the wear of metals is one of great

economic importance. This general subject is inti- mately related to that of nonferrous bearing alloys

bronzes and babbitts. Much study has been devoted

to the determination of the relative merits, so far as they can be evaluated in the laboratory, of various

bearing bronzes, as well as the effect of variations in a number of metallurgical factors upon the properties

of some of the more or less commercially standard al- loys. Active cooperation of manufacturers has been

given in this work through the research-associate plan.

Tin and antimony are essential components of certain

classes of bearing alloys; that is, the so-called babbitts. In the endeavor to be able to save these strate- gic materials, if the need should arise, work has been

undertaken at the request of the War Department on

the determination of the qualities and field of useful- ness of bearing alloys containing only a minimum

amount of these metals.

Any new commercial metallic material, before it is accepted to replace other materials, must prove its value. To do this by using it in actual structures and

observing the results is expensive and very slow. The

results of laboratory tests to determine the strength

and other properties can in most cases be used in se- lecting materials. Laboratory results are relatively

inexpensive and allow progress to be made rapidly.

A striking example of the value of extensive laboratory tests is the rapid increase in the use of aluminum
132 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY DECEMBER, 1931’ and magnesium alloys in aircraft. These materials

practically always comply with the purchase specifications because the manufacturers have had the foresight to establish very rigid tests of their product and

have developed methods and apparatus which are much more satisfactory than those generally used by

the manufacturers of ferrous metals. It is evident

that materials the properties of which are definitely

known can be used more efficiently; that is, to build

lighter and safer structures, than a material the

strength and other properties of which are known only

approximately.

The determination of the life of a structural material under vibratory or repeated stress is of particular

importance, in connection with aircraft. A very novel

testing method developed at the Bureau of Standards

for determining the endurance limit of light metallic

sheet materials, such as duralumin, has been in successful operation for several years. By means of suitable

air jets a strip of the sheet material supported on “ air

bearings ” at its two nodal points, is made to vibrate

at its natural period of vibration which, for the length

of test specimen used, is close to 12,000 cycles per

minute. By this method the time required for determining the fatigue limit of such materials is very

greatly reduced.

Several of the platinum group metals, although

rare, are indispensable for certain scientific and in- dustrial uses. However, during the past half century

the increase in knowledge about these metals has

lagged badly behind the general growth of science

and technology. For several years past the bureau has

been engaged in a number of studies on some of the more important physical and chemical properties of

platinum and the metals closely related to it. Projects

now completed or nearly so, are : Procedures for the

preparation of the several metals in the extremely pure

condition necessary for scientific use, method for their

analytic determination, and a technic for the fabrication of rhodium and platinum-rhodium alloys. Work

on a complete analytical procedure for the group is in progress and studies of the physical properties of some of the other metals and alloys are planned.

Work related in character to this is carried out on

other metals, particularly those of industrial importance, the object being the determination of the fundamental properties of the metal in the highest state of

purity available. The most recent studies of this kind

Avere carried out on nickel, the total impurities of

which Avere of the order of only 0.05 of 1 per cent. A necessary part of the preparation of these metals of

high purity is the development of suitable refractory

materials for containers Avhich Avill not contaminate

the metal.

Some metals are available in amounts exceeding

considerably the inustrial demand for them. A strik- ing example is bismuth. Studies have been carried on by the bureau in active cooperation Avith one of the

largest producers with the aim of extending the in- dustrial usefulness of bismuth. A development

Avorthy of mention is the use of low-melting alloys, in

Avhich bismuth is a very essential constitutent, Avhich

appears very promising as an increased outlet for

bismuth. The use of such an alloy as an embeddingmatrix to aid in carrying out certain difficult stamping and metal forming operations is greatly in- creasing.

Deterioration as a result of corrosion is usually asso- ciated Avith iron and steel. It is important also with

many of the nonferrous metals, in Avliich case the cor- rosive attack may appear in a rather mysterious guise.

For example, some of the wrought structural alloys of

aluminum have, in the past, become AA

Teak and brittle as a result of atmospheric corrosive attack without any

very marked surface indications of the change. Extensive laboratory and field tests have been carried out

in cooperation Avith other governmental agencies interested in the use of such materials for aircraft and with

leading manufacturers on both the aluminum and the

magnesium alloys Avith the aim of shoAving how the

alloys may be treated so as to prevent embrittlement

and what may be expected from various protective

coatings. The results obtained have greatly clarified the situation, and light alloys for use as structural

materials which are entirely reliable in service are commercially available. Another typical corrosion

study on nonferrous metals relates to certain types of

failure in copper roofs, as in soldered joints, in which

it was found that the temperture at which the soldering was done has a A'ery important bearing on the

subsequent behavior of the seam. Atmospheric exposure tests of nonferrous screen wire cloth in cooperation with the American Society

for Testing Materials are yielding some interesting

information on the life of such materials under various

atmospheric conditions. For example, an atmosphere

constantly contaminated Avith sulphurous fumes, as in an industrial center, is very seAr ere on a nickel-alloy

Avire cloth. At present the bureau is cooperating with the

American Electroplaters’ Society and the American

Society for Testing Materials in an extensive investigation of the protective \

T alue of electroplated metal

coatings on iron and steel. A large number of steel samples are being plated with chromium, copper,

nickel, zinc, or cadmium, or combinations of these

metals, applied under specified conditions. Part of

these samples will be subjected to atmospheric exposure tests in various parts of the country, including

Sandy Hook, NeAv York City, Pennsylvania State College, Pittsburgh, Washington, D. C., and Key West,

Fla. These samples will be inspected at regular in- tervals to determine their behavior in the atmosphere.

Corresponding samples Avill be tested in the laboratory

in order to determine what methods of test are suit- able for use in specifications for electroplated coatings

to meet different conditions of exposure. It Avill probably require at least one year before any definite conclusions can be reached in this investigation.

Through the Federal Specifications Board, the Bureau of Standards has assisted in the promulgation of

31 specifications for nonferrous metals in various forms

varying from ingot to Avire. Twenty-eight others

are on the Avay. In accordance Avith plans Avorked

out in cooperation with an advisory board composed of official representatives of 14 national organizations interested in the utilization of specifications,

there was issued by the Bureau of Standards in 1925. the National Directory of Commodity Specifications

giving in convenient form information regarding the

best known specifications for more than 600 commodities. A revised edition of this directory has been

made available. In it is found listed and briefly de- scribed, the standards and specifications of trade asso-
DECEMBER, 1932 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 133

ciations, technical societies, and organizations that

are representative in a national way of industry, as well as those of agencies representing the Federal Government as a whole. To supplement this directory

there has been issued an Encjmlopedia of Specifications

to contain the actual text of the specifications. Of the

10 parts in which the Encyclopedia will be issued, one

is found entitled “ Standards and Specifications for

Metals and Metal Products,” and another “ Standards

and Specifications for Nonmetallic Minerals and Their

Products.”

Upon request from industry, the bureau assists in- dustrial and commercial groups to establish trade

standards to serve as a basis for marketing. Such

commercial standards for brass pipe nipples made

from red brass, yellow brass, and Muntz metal have

been established. Each grade is furnished in two

weights, standard and extra strong. Nipples are specified as being made only from tested, new, full-weight

brass pipe, free from flaws and defects which might

affect its serviceability. The chemical composition of

the materials is specified, as well as dimensional re- quirements with tolerances. Other commercial standards have been established for builders’ hardware,

template and nontemplate ; and cover items which are made of cast and wrought brass and bronze in addition

to iron or steel. The specifications for these materials cover those in the natural finish, as well as hardware

plated with nickel, chromium or silver. The commercial standard on foundry patterns of

wood is of very considerable interest to the nonferrous

casting industry. The essential feature of this standard is a color code for marking the various parts of the

pattern to indicate the characteristic features of the

finished casting.

Another project of immediate interest in this industry is the formulation of a safety code for the protection of workers in foundries. This code which represents the combined efforts of a number of groups, in- cluding the National Foundries Association and the

American Foundrymen’s Association, is nearly completed.

A number of the nonferrous industries have given

thought to the application of simplified practice ; that

is, the elimination of seldom-called for varieties and

sizes. Representative commodities on which definite

simplified practice recommendations have been adopted by industry are: Brass lavatory and sink traps, screen wire cloth, builders’ hardware, metallic cart- ridges, loaded paper shot shells, grinding wheels, and

abrasive grain to mention only a few of the latest recommendations.

FOOD GRADE LABELS MEET GROWING

FAVOR

The quality of canned vegetables as established

under Federal standards will be shown on the labels

of the products of several manufacturers, who have

advised the U. S. Department of Agriculture that they

intend to adopt this practice. The quality will be

stated as “ grade A (fancy,” “ grade B (extra standard or choice),” and “grade C (standard),” the department explained in its announcement. The label- ing is expected to aid housewives in selecting their

foods.

In its announcement the department states that

“ read the label ” is to have a new meaning for housewives in view of the fact that a number of manufacturers of canned vegetables have informed the Department of Agriculture that they are planning to show

the quality of their products on the label. Substandard products must be labeled in accordance with

provisions of the food and drugs act. The Bureau of Agricultural Economics of the Department of Agriculture, has been making extensive

tests of the quality of canned fruits and vegetables,

and official grades have been promulgated for canned

corn, canned peas, and canned tomatoes. Tentative

grades have been issued for canned beets, lima beans,

pumpkin, sauerkraut, snap beans, spinach, succotash,

tomato pulp, and grapefruit, and the bureau now has

under test and consideration grades for canned applesauce, asparagus, carrots, mushrooms, okra, pimientoes,

plums, and sweetpotatoes.

Canners have been using official inspection to obtain

from wholesalers premiums for the higher grades of

canned goods, and in some instances grade requirements have been incorporated in contracts between

processors and distributors. The grading system

reaches back to the farmers, since grades for some cannery crops have also been developed by the Bureau of

Agricultural Economics, and these are being used in- creasingly as a basis for payments to farmers. Now

the grading system is being extended by canners to the

labeling of canned products.

The Bureau of Agricultural Economics recently has

made it possible, to a limited extent, for canners to prefix “ U. S.” to the grade designation. The first action of this kind was by a canner of lima beans on

the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The bureau requires

that when the prefix “ U. S.” is to be used, the products

thus labeled must have been canned in a plant under

the supervision of a Government grader who must

subsequently grade representative samples after the cans have cooled and after there has been time for defects in processing to become apparent.

FORMS FOR CONCRETE JOIST-CONSTRUCTION FLOORS

The printed copies of the revised Simplified Practice

Recommendation No. R87-32, entitled “ Forms for

Concrete Joist-Construction Floors,” are now available, and can be obtained from the Superintendent of

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

This simplification program, which was originally

suggested and formulated by the industry in 1928, was

modified at a meeting held on September 30, 1931, in order to bring the simplified list of sizes abreast with

the development of concrete ribbed floor construction.

As a result, the 12 and 1G inch special filler forms

were eliminated. In addition to this change, a table

of end-taper forms was added. The latter list should

make the recommendation of greater value to architects and structural engineers interested in detailed

specifications for this type of ribbed floor construction.
134 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY DECEMBER, 1932 APPLICATION OF SIMPLIFIED PRACTICE TO THE NONFERROUS INDUSTRIES

Development of Simplified-Practice Recommendations by Bureau of Standards in Cooperation with

Industry

Simplified practice recommendations have been developed for a number of nonferrous metals and mineral

products. For example, simplified practice recom- mendation No. 4 deals with penetrations for asphalt;

No. 13, No. 14, and No. 15 with sizes of slate for

various purposes; No. 19-28, with dimensions and

weights of asbestos paper and millboard.

The fact that many natural products occur in varying

forms, in different geographical areas, tends to multiply

the number of local standards. In consequence, the

question of uniform specifications and selection becomes

complicated and involved—in many cases, needlessly.

While lumber, per se, is a manufactured product, it is not too distantly related to logs, which are a natural

product, to serve here as an example of what one in- dustry has accomplished in the matter of unification of

specifications. The elaborate and effective recommendation on lumber is excellent proof that simplified

practice is readily applicable to such products. An

estimate made by that industry shortly after the simplified practice recommendation was adopted indicated

annual savings in excess of $200,000,000.

Periodically the cushioned smoothness of a newly

paved surface recalls to mind the important contribution asphalt has made to comfortable and efficient transportation. To the average person asphalt when

ready for use appears to be a homogeneous substance

in which few variations could be expected. It is sur- prising therefore to learn that in 1923 the production

and use of asphalt was complicated by 88 varieties

for paving purposes and 14 varieties for brick and

stone filler. For construction, ranging in type from

asphalt macadam penetration to sheet asphalt pavement, the survey showed nine grades of material to be ample, but under conditions of nonuniformity on

specification requirements more than 80 grades were

called for. This naturally added a host of complexities to the operation of the refineries, not only in

running the stills but also in the necessity of enlarged

storage space for stocks of different grades.

The industry and its customers, with the cooperation of the Bureau of Standards, set up a simplified

practice recommendation reducing this variety of penetrations to 10. A survey made three years later showed 90 per cent of the reported tonnage as falling

within these 10 varieties. Similarly, varieties of

structural slate for plumbing purposes were simplified from 827 to 138, roofing slate from 98 to 9, sizes of blackboard slate from 251 to 52. Twenty-one

thicknesses of asbestos millboard were reduced to 4, and size variations of asbestos paper now number 25

compared with 72 before the recommendation was

established.

These instances are sufficient to show that through

cooperative effort the natural product and extractive

industries can remove the burdens caused by nonessential variations in sizes, types, or other characteristics

of their output.

The list of manufactured products, composed wholly

or in part of nonferrous metals and minerals, on which

simplified practice recommendations exist is large and

varied. Grinding wheels, coated abrasives, clay tiles,

brick, chinaware, porcelain insulators, plumbing fix- tures, and metallic cartridges are only a few such combinations. These programs of waste elimination are

initiated and developed by the industries concerned.

Their acceptance is voluntary and the obligation

purely a moral one. A standing committee representing the producers, distributors, and consumers has

charge of all matters of adherence and of periodic

revision when desirable.

For many years the wire insect screen cloth industry

has been manufacturing a complete line of black

painted, electro galvanized, bright galvanized, copper

and commercial bronze wire screen cloth, in meshes 12,

14, 16, and 18, and in an ever increasing variety of

widths. Because of change in demand, many of the

items manufactured were no longer required.

Recognizing the need for simplification in the industry, the Wire Screen Cloth Manufacturers’ Institute

appointed a committee to study production and

demand, and to prepare a tentative list of meshes,

widths, and qualities of wire insect screen cloth. The proposed program, which was based on a survey

of current demand and manufacturing requirements,

represents a progressive step in the industry. The

resulting recommendation, as finally accepted by the

industry, retains for regular stock purposes 154 items,

covering the several descriptions, meshes, and widths.

Former^ there were 360 items, and the elimination of

206 items represents a reduction of approximately 57

per cent. The eliminated items are 4 meshes of bright

galvanized and 3 meshes of black painted wire in 20

widths each ; and 6 widths each of all retained

varieties. In 1923 the Vitrified China Manufacturers’ Association, in cooperation with the American Hotel Association, proposed an elimination of excess varieties of

hotel chinaware. The simplified list of sizes and

varieties of china for hotel use, as finally accepted b}^ all interests, retained for regular stock purposes 214

items, as compared with the former variety of 700. Following the general conference it was stated by

members of the industry that the savings made possi- ble by the deletion of a large number of molds would

be considerable. The simplification of hotel china- ware served as a starting point for similar action by

the affected industries in connection with chinaware

for other uses. Cafeteria and restaurant chinaware was recommended for a reduction in variety, from 700

to 243; dining-car chinaware, from 700 varieties to 276; and hospital chinaware from 700 varieties to 279. The part played by the Bureau of Standards in

developing simplified practice recommendations is to provide, upon request, a neutral agency to coordinate

the efforts and interests of the various groups concerned, to present the recommendations to the potential

acceptors for final action, and to promulgate the

results. To date more than 140 simplified practice

recommendations have been developed as described.
DECEMBER, 1932 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 135

PURCHASING RUBBER PRODUCTS

Review of Value of Specifications for Rubber Products to Show Decreased Cost and Increased

Serviceability

By A. T. McPherson, Bureau of Standards

Virtually all the rubber products used by the Federal Government from truck tires to surgeons’ gloves

are purchased under specifications which set standards

of quality, dimension, and performance. The advantages of specification buying by the Government are twofold. In the first place, millions of dollars are saved in the decreased cost and increased serviceability of rubber products. In the second place, there

is an indirect benefit to the public in that the Government specifications frequently set standards for the

industry which ultimately benefit every consumer. The especial need for specifications for rubber products may be illustrated by reference to surgeons’

gloves. Two gloves may

be so similar in appearance, “feel,” color, and

other characteristics that even an expert can not

distinguish between them

by looking at them, and

yet one of them may be- come hard and brittle in

a few weeks while the

other may be practically

unchanged after several

years. Two or three ster- ilizations may render the one glove flabby and useless, while the other may still be serviceable after a dozen or more treatments with live steam. The latest Federal specification for gloves will enable the Government to secure the latter type. Important features

of this specification are a sterilization test and an ac- celerated life test whereby a few days in an oven or

in a bomb containing oxygen gas under pressure af- fords a convenient and reliable index of the quality

of the rubber.

The majority of the Government specifications for

rubber products are promulgated by the Federal Specifications Board, which was organized to compile or adopt and promulgate standard specifications for materials and services and to bring Government specifications into harmony with the best commercial practice. The Director of the Bureau of Standards is chairman, ex officio, of this board, and various members of the bureau staff serve on the technical committees which formulate the specifications. In addition to the Federal specifications, several of the departments of the Government issue specifications of

their own. These concern particular or highly specialized products that are required by only one branch

of the service, as, for example, the field-telephone wire

used by the Signal Corps of the Army, of the gas

masks required by the Chemical Warfare Service. In addition to the Government specifications for

rubber products, there are many nationally recognized

standards, specifications, and methods of test which

have been prepared by technical societies and trade

associations. All these specifications have been rendered available in convenient form in the new revised

edition of the National Directory of Commodity Specfications compiled b}7 the division of specifications and

recently issued by the Bureau of Standards. In this

directory each standard or specification is listed by

title, designating number, and name of sponsoring

organization, and is also summarized as to technical

characteristics, scope, and special applications. The

standards and specifications for rubber products mentioned in the directory are too numerous to list in full here, there being, for example, specifications for no less than 1G different kinds of hose alone, and for 11 differ- ent kinds of druggists’ rubber sundries, these having

been prepared by various

national technical societies, trade associations,

and the Federal Specifications Board.

The use of commercial

standards affords a means

whereby the small purchaser may have the advantages of the specification plan of buying without the necessity of familiarizing himself with the

technical details of specifications or engaging; in

. # o o ®

the testing of small lots of goods which might involve

a greater expense than the saving effected. The division of trade standards of the Bureau of

Standards has cooperated with industry in developing and promulgating commercial standards for rubber sheeting and surgeons’ gloves, the annual purchases of which by the hospitals and physicians of

the country amount to nearly $5,000,000. The projects for developing these standards were initiated by

the American Hospital Association in cooperation

with the Rubber Manufacturer^’ Association. The

standard for rubber sheeting calls for the same high

grade of material as the Federal specification, and has

been published l>y the Bureau of Standards under the

designation, Rubber Sheeting (Hospital), CS38-32.

The standards for gloves are designated as Surgeons'

Rubber Gloves. CS40-32, and Surgeons’ Latex Gloves.

CS41-32.

The function of the Bureau of Standards in connection with these projects is that of bringing the various

interests of the industry together by means of conferences and correspondence with leaders and by ascer- taining the acceptability of the specifications, ulti- mately arrived at in conference, to the majority of the

industry.

The mushroomlike expansion of the rubber industry

during the past two decades has led to the production

of an unnecessarily large number and varieties, sizes,

and kinds of the same rubber article, and in conse- quence material savings to the industry can be ef- fected by carefully planned and intelligently directed

Continuing his discussion of the work of the

Bureau of Standards in relation to the rubber

industry, Doctor McPherson in this article

describes three avenues through which the bu- reau comes into direct contact with the rubber

industry —specifications, commercial standards, and simplified practice. In the next issue

of Commercial Standards Monthly he will

continue the discussion with an article on The

Testing of Rubber Goods.
136 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY DECEMBER, 1931'

simplification. As in the establishment of commercial

standards the Bureau of Standards acts on requests

from the industry and assists commercial groups in the

establishment of simplified practice recommendations.

The division of simplified practice cooperates with such

groups to reduce waste, usually through eliminating

unnecessary variety of product, method, or practice.

Its function is to bring together all parties interested in

a project of this character and to coordinate their work

in developing a simplified practice recommendation.

A simplified practice recommendation for industrial

truck tires developed by the industry resulted in a substantial reduction in the number of sizes of these tires,

which range from 9 inches to 27y2 inches, outside

diameter. In the dental industry and profession, a recommendation has been approved for the color of,

and method of packaging, dental veneering, and base

rubber.

Simplified practice recommendations are intended

to benefit alike producers, distributors, and users.

STANDARDS FOR FARM HOUSING

Program to Raise Standards of Farm Housing Offered by President’s Conference on Home Building and

Home Ownership

To the 5,000,000 American farm homes in which all water for household use is still carried in from the

well by hand, waste is carried out in pails, and lighting is by kerosene lamps, the President’s Conference on Home Building and Home Ownership offers, in the

publication of its final report on “ Farm and Village

Housing,” a program for the improvement of these

primitive conditions.

The report is the work of a committee of 45 specialists in various fields of agriculture and housing, under

the chairmanship of Provost A. R. Mann, of Cornell

University. It is based upon a survey of the physical

conditions of rural housing throughout the Nation, a survey of financing practices, of taxation difficulties,

and of the agencies available to work for the improvement of farm homes. It recognizes that the incomes

of farmers must increase before most of them can af- ford new homes of suitable standard, and that this

increase must be preceded by more intelligent use of

land, involving particularly the withdrawal from agriculture of submarginal land.

But meanwhile, the report finds, much can be done

by the farmer himself and by the agencies devoted to his welfare to improve rural housing. If farmers

can not afford new dwellings, they can repair and re- model those they have. The authors of the report believe that the poor physical quality of most farm

homes, indicated by the fact that the average value

of farmers’ dwellings in the United States according

to the 1930 census, is only $1,126, by the presence of

piped-in water in less than one-sixth of America’s

farm dwellings, and by the general absence of laborsaving devices, is due as much to indifference and to lack of information on how to make improvements

economically as it is to low income.

Accordingly, a major feature of the report is that

it brings together existing information to serve as a manual for the farmer. There are instructions on how the farmer can acquire plumbing, electricity, and

heating equipment bit by bit at a cost which the

majority could probably afford. There are also comprehensive instructions on the mixing and use of

paints, on the building of frame houses, on the protection of health, and on the planning of the farmstead for beauty and utility. In this connection the

report points out that so far even less attention has

been paid to making the farm home attractive than

to making it comfortable.

But the lasting service of the report is perhaps its revelation of the lack of information extant on farm

housing. The authors find that in comparison to the

need little has been done; there are no suitable house

plans to meet the varying needs of different sections

of the country and different types of farming; there

have been on attempts to adapt the farmhouse to its special functions; there are no comprehensive studies on reconditioning. That these deficiencies must be met

is self-evident and the report calls for the establishment of a central agency for research on farm-housing

problems to inspire and coordinate investigations to get at the facts by which better homes for America’s

farmers can be provided.

Of special interest in connection with the present

tendency to return to the land is the section of the re- port on part-time farmers, Avho have increased tre- mendously in the past 20 years. The special problem of all part-time farmers is said to be the “ high cost of credit.” “ The evidence is that credit at 6 per cent

is too costly to induce many wage earners to settle on

the land or to facilitate improvement in the housing

conditions of those who are already engaged in parttime farming.”

The report contains also a splendid history of rural

architecture in America, a study of village economy,

and summaries of the housing conditions of Indians

and of migratory laborers—conditions so bad as to constitute a social problem. An extensive bibliography

of publications dealing with the many aspects of farm

housing is included. Secretary Ray Lyman Wilbur,

of the Department of the Interior, wrote the foreword,

and there is an introduction by the editors, John M.

(fries and James Ford. The volume is an invaluable

textbook and guide to action for farmers, agricultural

extension agents, and all those interested in rural

problems.

This report forms part of the complete program,

formulated by the President’s Conference on Home

Building and Home Ownership, at its meeting in

Washington last December, to raise the standard of

American housing. The entire program is presented

in 11 volumes of which 9 have now been published.

The volumes can be purchased for $1.15 each postpaid,

from Dr. James Ford, the President’s Conference on Home Building and Home Ownership, Department of

Commerce Building, Washington, D. C.
DECEMBER, 1932 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 137

HOSPITAL STANDARDIZATION

Work of American College of Surgeons Directed Toward Proper Care of the Patient

Hospital standardization celebrates its fifteenth

birthday this year. It presents an enviable record

which shows that its accumulated total of individual

surveys of hospitals throughout the United States and

Canada has passed the 30,000 mark. The phenomenal

success of the movement—its wide scope and ever-ex- tending influence—has so improved hospitals in making them adequate for the safe and efficient care of

the sick and injured that more than any other single

factor has it succeeded in promoting the growth of the

hospital as an institution outstanding in devotion of

service to the public. Moreover, it has acted as an in- valuable aid in developing the consensus of

opinion that the modern

hospital is an accurate index of an advancing

and progressive civilization. Hospital standardization is a movement to promote the right care of

the sick and injured. It aims primarily at establishing and maintaining

proper environment in

the hospital for the doctor, his associates, aides,

and coworkers so that the

most scientific service

may be rendered. It promotes better hospitalization

in all its phases, thus affording the patient the greatest

benefits that medical science can offer. Although the foremost aim of hospital standardization is to benefit the public through the improvement

of hospitals, it was the advancement of surgery which

was responsible for the birth of the movement. The

American College of Surgeons, established in 1913 to improve the practice of surgery and place it on a higher, more ethical plane, required that its candidates submit 100 case records of patients upon whom

they had operated as evidence of surgical judgment

and technical ability. Few candidates could readily

or acceptably comply with the requirements since the

majority of hospitals in the United States and Canada

failed to keep records providing accurate data. Further inquiry revealed that the average institution

lacked a clinical laboratory, X-ray department, and

other diagnostic and therapeutic facilities now rec- ognized as extremely essential in the scientific care

of the patient. Medical staffs were unorganized and

the professional work of the institution was generally

without proper supervision.

The American College of Surgeons realized at once how greatly the public could be benefited were conditions in hospitals improved. It. therefore, undertook a plan which has marked an epoch in hospital

history—the hospital standardization movement. Following two years of study and investigation, and after

having consulted the most eminent medical and hospital authorities, the minimum standard was care- fully formulated, and is as follows:

1. That physicians and surgeons privileged to practice in the hospital be organized as a definite group or staff. Such

organization has nothing to do with the question as to whether

the hospital is “ open ” or “ closed,” nor need it affect the various existing types of staff organization. The word “ staff ”

is here defined as the group of doctors who practice in the hospital inclusive of all groups such as the “ regular staff,” the “ visiting staff,” and the “ associate staff.”

2. That membership upon the staff be restricted to physicians

and surgeons who are (a) full graduates of medicine in good

standing and legally licensed to practice in their respective States or provinces, (b) competent in their respective fields. and (c) worthy in character and in matters of professional

ethics ; that in this latter con- nection the practice of the

division of fees, under any

guise whatever, be prohibited.

3.

That the staff initiate and, with the approval of the governing board of the hospital, adopt rules, regulations,

and policies governing the professional work of the hospital ; that these rules, regulations, and policies specifi- cally provide: (a) That staff meetings be held at least once each month. (In large hospitals the departments may

choose to meet separately.)

(b) That the staff review

and analyze at regular inter- vals their clinical experience

in the various departments of

tlie hospital, such as medicine, surgery, obstetrics, and the other specialties ; the clinical records of patients, free and

pay, to be the basis for such review and analysis.

4. That accurate and complete records be written for all patients and filed in an accessible manner in the hospital—

a

complete case record being one which includes identification data ; complaint ; personal and family history ; history of present illness ; physical examination ; special examinations,

such as consultations, clinical laboratory, X-ray and other examinations ; provisional or working diagnosis ; medical or

surgical treatment ; gross and microscopical pathological find- ings ; progress notes ; final diagnosis ; condition on discharge

;

follow-up and, in case of death, autopsy findings.

5. That diagnostic and therapeutic facilities under competent

supervision be available for the study, diagnosis, and treat- ment of patients, these to include, at least (a) a clinical labo- ratory providing chemical, bacteriological, serological, and

pathological services ; and (h) an X-ray department providing

radiographic and fluoroscopic services. With interested national organizations approving

that the college take the initiative, the minimum standard was put into effect. The first annual survey was made in 1918 and included. G92 institutions of 100 beds

and over, only 89 of which were found to meet the re- quirements. The minimum standard lias never been

altered. Therefore, it can not be said that more institu- tions are meeting the requirements to-day because of

a lower standard. The principles are the same to-dav

as they were when established in 1918, but their in- terpretation has broadened to meet the changing conditions of society. Hospitals must develop and progress so that they may keep pace with the growing

demands of the public. The minimum standard seeks

to standardize hospitals so far as the fundamental

principles or essentials of good hospital service and

The use of standardized surgical dressings,

as recommended by the American College of

Surgeons three years ago, continues to increase

in a large number of hospitals since they are found to be practical as well as economical if used under proper conditions. Already most

of the 21 types of dressings recommended are

in use. These standardized dressings, which

during the past year have been approved by

the American Hospital Association and promulgated under the auspices of the Bureau of

Standards, include sponges, abdominal packs,

gauze dressings, and pads.
138 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY DECEMBER, 1932

safe and efficient care of the patient are concerned, but

in no way does it deprive an institution of its individuality. The minimum standard promotes independence in adaptation to local and varying conditions. A

hospital by maintaining the minimum standard qualifies, itself for individual growth and development.

The founders of hospital standardization based

their recommendations on fundamental principles

which can be adapted successfully to any type of

institution caring for the sick and injured. These

principles have been amplified and a broader interpretation applied so that they might embrace every

phase of hospital administration which has to do with

the proper care of the patient. Hospital standardization was intended by its founders to promote medical

science through the medium of the hospital. They believed that in this way it would be possible to bring

to every practitioner in medicine the most enriching

knowledge and experience as a part of his complete

armamentarium in diagnosis and therapy. Through

improving the organization and utilization of existing

personnel and facilities, the founders believed that the

hospital could do much toward bettering the quality

of the service rendered its patients as well as enlarging

that service to a considerable degree.

Hospital standardization does not depend upon

legal enforcement. No institution is compelled by

law to adopt the principles and incorporate them into

its organization. Acceptance of the standard is entirely voluntary, as is maintenance of the require- ments. The worthiness of the movement has been

manifested by its rapid growth and extension, and the

increased esteem accorded those institutions which

have adopted the standard. Further evidence of its value is the fact that but few hospitals fail to comply

with the requirements after they are once adopted.

The movement is not limited to any one part of a hospital ; it is not restricted to one group, nor to one specific locality. It takes into consideration all clinical

aspects of an institution; it includes all groups and

applies equally well to every hospital so long as that

institution manifests a true desire to focus every phase

of its organization and service toward the proper care

of the patient.

USE OF TRANSMISSIONS OF STANDARD

RADIO FREQUENCIES

The Bureau of Standards announces the availability

of a letter circular (LC-335) on uses of transmissions

of standard radio-frequencies. This circular, which is in mimeographed form, gives methods of frequency

measurement for utilizing the standard frequencies

transmitted by radio by the Bureau of Standards.

It is in three parts.

Part 1 gives methods of using the 5,000 kc trans- missions for the calibration of standard oscillators in

simple cases, where the frequencies have such numerical values as to be readily checked directly in terms of

the transmissions.

Part 2 gives specific information for the use of the

transmissions to check with great accuracy the* fre- quency standard used in any broadcasting station (for

example, the monitor required by F. R. C. rule 145).

The discussion is divided into three sections, A, B, and

(1, progressing in difficulty of measurement. Section

A deals with two frequencies, 1,000 and 1,250 kilocycles, which could readily be measured as explained

in section B. Very little apparatus is required for

measurements at these frequencies. Section A includes

information on the measurements required when a sta- tion standard is used which differs from the assigned

frequency by 500 or 1,000 cycles per second. Section

B gives the method of measurement when an auxiliary

generator is required. The method described in this

section applies when the frequency in kilocycles is a multiple of 50. Section C gives the method of meas- urement for any broadcast frequency (multiples of

10 ). Part 3 is a bibliography in which references to other

methods of frequency measurements may be found

and devices for use in frequency measurements are

described. The references give other methods, which

range from those using very simple apparatus giving- results accurate to 1 per cent, to those using complicated and expensive apparatus giving results accurate

to better than a part in a million.

VITRIFIED PAVING BRICK

The revised simplified practice recommendation

(1-32) covering vitrified paving brick has been ac- corded the required degree of acceptance by all in- terests in the industry. This simplification program,

which was originally suggested and developed by the

industry in 1921. has been reviewed by the standing

committee on eight occasions. The revised recommendation is to be effective as of December 1, 1932. In the revised schedule, which was prompted by the

results of a survey conducted by the standing committee of the industry, the 4 by 3 by 8y2 inch vertical

fiber lug brick has been included, and the ?>y2 by 4 by

_8 y2 inch vertical fiber lugless brick has been eliminated.

The former size represents 22.6 per cent of the 1931

shipments of vitrified paving brick, while the latter averaged, during the past four years, less than, 3 per

cent. With these changes the new list of six recognized

stock varieties will cover 75.9 per cent of the total shipments as compared with 56.1 per cent for the

previous list.

BRITISH STANDARD FOR TRAIN-LIGHTING

ACCUMULATORS

Following upon the publication of the two specifications for portable and for stationary accumulators,

respectively, a corresponding specification for trainlighting accumulators of the lead-acid type has been

issued by the British Standards Institution.

The position in which such accumulators are in- stalled on the train varies greatly according to the

practice of the individual railway companies, with the

result that it has not been found possible to standardize a rigid design of battery. The dimensions and

the materials of a number of the component parts are, however, standardized, and tolerances are given. The

chemical purity of the electrolyte is covered, and the

method of testing for output fully dealt with. A test for the chemical inertness of molded composition and

ebonite boxes is included.
DECEMBER, 1932 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 139

BUYING BLANKETS

American Home Economics Association Issues Leaflet As a Guide to Purchasing Blankets 1

Bed blankets should last for a number of years.

It is highly desirable, therefore, that the blankets purchased be of the kind and quality to give continuing

satisfaction to the users. Most blankets are made of wool, cotton, or a mixture of these fibers. Since wool is more expensive

than cotton, the price of a good all-wool blanket is usually higher than that of a part-wool blanket and

much higher than that of a cotton blanket. When

choosing a blanket, consider the various factors which

influence its value and select the one at a price which

can be afforded that most nearly meets your own

needs.

The physical properties of a blanket are greatly

influenced by the kind of fiber used in making it. Because of the characteristics of wool fibers, a well-made

wool blanket retains heat, is warm when new, and

continues to be warm over a long period of service.

The warmth of a blanket results from the abundance

of air spaces between the fibers. Cotton blankets may

be made to retain heat when new, but tins ability usually decreases because the air spaces are reduced as the

blanket is used and laundered.

As a rule wool blankets of a given warmth value

are much lighter in weight than cotton blankets of

similar warmth. It is usually conceded that 20 or 25

per cent wool fiber is required in a part-wool blanket

to increase its warmth appreciably over that of an all- cotton blanket. Since cotton is much less expensive

than wool, mixed or part-wool blankets tend to have

very little wool in them. Unless the percentage of

fiber is given on the label, it is doubtless less than 5 per cent. In March, 1932, a conference (held under the auspices of the Bureau of Standards) of representatives

of manufacturers, distributors, and users of wool and

part-wool blankets, adopted rules (Commercial Standard CS39-32) which are to be effective after December 31, 1932, for the labeling of these blankets as fol- lows : No finished blanket containing less than 5 per cent wool shall carry the word “ Wool ” in any form. Blankets labeled with the word “ Wool ” in any form and

containing: (a) Between 5 and 25 per cent wool shall be

labeled “ Part Wool, not less than 5 per cent wool.” (6) More

than 25 per cent wool shall be labeled with the guaranteed

(minimum) wool content in percentage.

(c) Above 98 per cent wool shall be labeled “All Wool.”

The wool percentage above refers to the fillers employed and means the percentage of wool in the entire blanket and not in the filling alone. Therefore, insist on exact information as to the per- centage of different fibers in the blankets you buy.

The durability of a blanket depends largely on its tensile strength. This means the pull (measured in pounds) it will stand before breaking. In a recent report on a number of blankets which gave unsatisfactory service, the tensile strength of the warp varied

from 17 to 50 pounds and that of the filling from 3 to

1 Consumer Purchasing Leaflet No. 2, entitled "When You Buy

Blankets,” prepared by committee on standardization of consumers'

goods, American Home Economics Association, 620 Mills Building,

Washington, D. C. Copies are obtainable direct at prices approxi

mutely equivalent to postage.

15 pounds. The warp of these blankets was cotton and the filling Avas avooI. Probably the minimum tensile strength of the warp of a blanket should be not

less than 30 to 40 pounds and that of the filling not

less than 20 to 30 pounds. Information as to the tensile strength of warp and filling will probably not be

given on the labels for some time, but the purchaser

should ask the dealer for it and urge that in the future

the manufacturer provide it on the labels of all blankets.

The weight of different blankets of the same size and construction and of the same kind of fibers is a

significant indication of their relative warmth and

durability; for unless other factors vary, where the

amount of fiber is increased, the warmth and durability are increased. Since the properties of avooI and

cotton ai- e so different, there is no advantage in comparing the weight of a cotton blanket with that of a wool blanket. But one may advantageously compare

the weights of different wool blankets of the same size with one another and the Aveights of different cotton blankets of the same size. In mixed or part-wool

blankets one may compare Aveights where the percentage of fibers is the same. Insist, therefore, on learning the weight of the blankets as well as the kind and

relative amount of fibers present.

Construction is important. It has much to do Avith

the warmth and durability of the blanket. The more

nap a blanket has, the Avanner it is, since it will hold more air; but the filling or crosswise yarns in blankets

with a very thick nap have often been greatly weakened in the process of raising the nap, hence an excessively napped blanket Avill not wear Avell and the

yarns will tend to pull apart when subjected to strain.

The purchaser may be able to discover if a blanket has

been unduly Aveakened in the napping process by press- ing the nap aside and examining the yarns beneath,

or in the case of a lightweight blanket by holding one

thickness of the blanket up to the light. Thin places

in the blanket and in the individual yarns are eA'i- dences of overnapping. The yarns which are used in

weaving stripes in the blanket should be similar in construction and of the same fiber as the other yarns

and the tension in weaving should be uniform so that

when the blanket is cleaned certain stripes or portion.-,

of it will not shrink and cause a puckered appearance.

The characteristic of the binding Avhicli should be

given most consideration is durability. If the binding

is a lightweight or a weighted silk, it will have to be

replaced long before the blanket is Avorn out. Furthermore, the binding should be applied in such a manner and be of such material that it will not shrink more than the blanket Avhen it is laundered.

The size of a blanket is usually indicated on the

label and, if not, can be readily determined. Too

often the blankets chosen are too short to tuck in adequately at the foot of the bed and come up Avell o\r er the shoulders. One should knoAV the width of

the bed on Avhich a blanket is to be used and alloAv 18

inches or more in addition for the Avidth of the blanket. Standard size beds are 74 inches in length

;
140 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY DECEMBER, 1932

therefore, a blanket should not be less than 80 inches

long, while 90 inches is desirable.2 Widths and

lengths in inches as recommended for blankets are: For single beds, 00 by 80, 60 by 84, 00 by 90; for

three-quarter beds, 66 by 80, 70 by 80, 72 by 84, 72 by

90; and for double beds, 72 by 84, 72 by 90, and 80

by 90.

2 The sizes of bed blankets recommended by the industry in its Simplified Practice Recommendation No. 11, effective Nov. 1, 1924, are as follows: 54 by 76, 60 by 76, 60 by SO, 60 by S4, 64 by 76, 66

by 80, 66 by 84, 66 by 90, 68 by 80, 70 by 80, 72 by 84, and SO by 90. This recommendation is scheduled for revision by the standing committee of the. industry.

STANDARDIZATION BOARD APPOINTED IN

VIRGINIA

Governor Pollard, of Virginia, has announced the

appointment of an advisory standardization board to work with the State purchasing agent in an effort to standardize as far as practicable the equipment and

supplies used by the various agencies and institutions

of the State of Virginia.

The board will include J. R. McCauley, of the medical college; Dr. J. A. C. Chandler, of the College of

William and Mary; Capt. Frank Smith of the State

penitentiary convict road force; Dr. Julian A. Burrus,

of Virginia Polytechnic Institute; Col. William

Couper, of Virginia Military Institute ; R. E. Skinner,

of the Central State Hospital; A. Lambert Martin,

of Catawba Sanatorium; Dr. W. E. Brown, of Blue

Ridge Sanatorium; and Dr. J. L. Jarman, of State

Teachers College.

STANDARDIZATION OF RAILROAD

EQUIPMENT

Criticizing the railroads has long been a favorite

pastime, recently observed the American Machinist in an editorial on Railroad Critics and Research, adding

“ and, while much of the criticism has been unwarranted because of a lack of understanding of the problem, there has been plenty of reason for some of it.” One of the latest criticisms claims great losses to the railroads because of lack of research. As a matter of fact, as pointed out by the editor of the American Machinist, considerable research has been and is being done, some of it through the American Railway

Association. Many railroad executives feel that the

number of types of locomotives can be greatly reduced,

and a considerable saving effected both in operation

and maintenance. Such a step would not only reduce

the cost of carrying spare parts, but would also simplify machining operations in the shops.

Simplification of types of locomotives, and such details as crank pins, bearing and shoes, and wedges will

help reduce the cost of operation. Similarly, research

might well extend to shop equipment and shop practice, not with the idea of imposing fixed standards or methods on all shops but to aid in eliminating both

machines and methods that are obsolete. As explained by the editorial appearing in the

American Machinist, standardization does not mean

that no new types of locomotives will be developed, but

rather that spasmodic designing and testing by individual railroads would give way to organized research

in the interest of the whole industry.

As yet no tests have been developed by which to measure the effect which laundering will have on a blanket, although some blankets tend to retain their

original value after laundering much better than

others. If a blanket is properly made, one may ex- pect very little shrinkage when properly laundered.

All colors should be fast. It is recommended that the label on a blanket give

t lie consumer reliable information on the following:

(1) Size in inches, (2) per cent of wool and cotton,

(3) tensile strength of warp and filling, and (4)

weight in pounds.

GENERAL CONFERENCE ON WALNUT

VENEERS

A recommended commercial standard for walnut

veneers as adopted b}^ the general conference of October 20, 1932, was circulated by the division of trade

standards for written acceptance under date of November 10, 1932.

This commercial standard provides standard grading specifications for three classes of half-round and

sliced walnut veneer based on cutting yield and quality

as determined by manufacturing and natural defects. It is the desire of the walnut-veneer industry to establish these standard rules for the basic grades and

thus eliminate the wasteful and cumbersome method of

taking several full-sized samples from each flitch. Under the new plan swatches will be used to designate

the grain character and texture of the veneer offered

for sale under the different grades, and the plan should

prove especially beneficial to the manufacturers of

walnut veneer as well as panel manufacturers and furniture companies that make their own plywood panels.

A glossary of terms used in the walnut-veneer industry is included in an effort to clarify some of these

expressions which are sometimes interpreted differ- ently in various parts of the country.

The standard as recommended was proposed by the

American Walnut Manufacturers Association.

STANDARD STEEL SAMPLES OF KNOWN

NITROGEN CONTENT

As a result of an apparently increasing general

interest in the determination of nitrogen in ferrous

materials, the Bureau of Standards has received nu- merous requests for iron or steel samples of known

nitrogen content, for standardizing purposes.

As described in Research Paper No. 494, which is published in the November, 1932 issue of the Bureau

of Standards Journal of Research, the nitrogen contents of four of the current standard samples have

been determined, and these four samples, with nitrogen contents ranging from 0.005 to 0.028 per cent, are now available as standards for analysts interested in the determination of nitrogen.

Data are presented to show that the nitrogen contents of several standard samples of iron and steel have not changed during periods as long as 13 years. These data are offered in answer to the question that

has been raised as to the permanence of the nitrogen

content of these samples.
DECEMBER, 1932 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 141

AMERICAN STANDARDS ASSOCIATION

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

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

Scientific charts for lantern slides. —A new standard which will be a boon to those who have had to

sit through many hours of lectures and papers illus- trated with poor and even illegible lantern slides has

just been approved by the American Standards Association in the form of an American recommended

practice for engineering and scientific charts for lan- tern slides. The standard, which provides rules for

widths of lines, lettering, and symbols designed to assure a maximum of legibility, was developed by a

special subgroup of the committee on engineering and

scientific graphs of the sectional committee on standards for graphic presentation.

In developing the standard, the subgroup directed

its attention chiefly to the most common variety of

engineering and scientific charts, namely, line charts

which show the relationship between two variable

quantities. The purpose of the recommendations is the presentation of the data concerned in a systematic

way by means of charts suitable for use as lantern

slides when reduced to one-third of their original

dimensions. With slight modifications as to line

widths the recommendations usually are also applicable to charts that are prepared for use both as lan- tern slides and as illustrations for publication.

The new standard gives rules for the essential set up

of the charts; it further specifies types and sizes of

lettering, as well as different line widths, and sizes of

four symbols commonly used in graphs—an open circle, a solid circle, a triangle, and a square. The size of about 7 by 10 inches is suggested for the over-all

dimensions of lantern-slicle charts. This rectangle can be used either vertically or horizontally according

to which method presents the data most effectively.

The recommended sizes of lettering and widths of line

for letters are based on ophthalmological data, actual

tests, and an investigation of the conditions under

which standard projection equipments are used. For

example, the focal length of the projection lantern was assumed to be 12 inches, and the farthest spectator was assumed to be at the same distance from the

screen as the lantern.

An appendix, which does not form part of the

standard but simply serves as useful information, contains a table of commercial lettering templates and

lettering pens with which the charts may easily be

produced in the manner recommended. The appendix

also contains a list of references to publications dealing with graphic presentation.

Safety Code Correlating Committee. —The recent meeting of the Safety Code Correlating Committee

initiated two projects—methods of test and performance requirements for nonshatterable glass, and a project on work in compressed air. Action was taken

recommending the initiation of these two projects to the standards council. The recommendation of the

committee in reference to the project on nonshatterable glass has already been acted upon by the standards council and the development of the project will

be under the sponsorship of the National Bureau of

Casualty and Surety Underwriters. No formal action

has been taken on the safety code for work in compressed air, as a definite decision has not as yet been

made concerning sponsorship.

Important action was also taken by the meeting on two projects which have been inactive for a number of

years and which are of prime importance to industry

in general. These projects apply to ventilation and

to exhaust systems. In connection with the ventilation code, a recommendation for the continuation of

sponsorship by the American Society of Heating and

Ventilating Engineers was made, and the sponsor is now proceeding with the organization of the sectional

committee. This committee will have for its immediate consideration the code recently approved by the

sponsor, which has been forwarded to A.S.A. for consideration as the basis of American standard specifications for heating systems.

In reference to exhaust systems, the committee rec- ommended the approval of the New York State Code

for the Removal of Dust, Gases, and Fumes as American recommended practice, and the immediate formation of a sectional committee to undertake a revision

of this code for advancement to American standard.

This recommendation has been submitted to formal

letter ballot of the correlating committee before final recommendation is made to the standards council.

Concrete reinforcing rods. —A revision of the American standard on Steel Spiral Rods for Concrete Reinforcement (Simplified Practice Recommendation

No. R53-26) has been submitted to the American

Standards Association bj^ the joint sponsors, the Bureau of Standards of the U. S. Department of Commerce, and the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute.

The revision has been accepted by industry as a revision to the simplification under the procedure of the

Bureau of Standards. Approval of the revision is now under consideration by the American Standards

Association. The revision consists largely of a rear- rangement of the tabular form in which certain data

are presented, and the placing in an appendix of tables

of other data now given for informational purposes.

1 Vires and cables. —The following standards, recently

approved by the American Standards Association,

have been published by the sponsors, the American

Institute of Electrical Engineers : American tentative

standard for weatherproof wires and cables, American

tentative standard for heat-resisting wires and cables,

and American standard definitions and general standards for wires and cables. Screen testing of ores.—The American recom- mended practice for methods for screen testing of ores (hand method), approved by the American Standards

Association in July,* 1932, has been published by the

American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, sponsor for the project.

Specifications for cement.—Minor editorial changes,

to include tolerances of limits of chemical properties,

have been made in the text of American standard specifications for Portland cement. As originally issued,

limits for chemical properties appeared in section 2 of

the standard specifications for Portland cement ; and

tolerances for these limits were given in the standard

methods of testing Portland cement. A revision of
142

' COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY DECEMBER, 1932

tlie standard methods of testing Portland cement is now being considered by the sectional committee, fol- lowing its adoption by the American Society for Test- ing Materials, sponsor for the project. In connection

with this revision, tolerances for the chemical limits

have been transferred to the standard specifications

and now appear in section 2 as follows

ARMY-NAVY AIRCRAFT STANDARDIZATION

The Army-Navv aircraft standardization conference, held recently at the Air Corps materiel division,

Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio, marked the eighth an- nual meeting of this kind. Beginning in 1923 in an

attempt to unify the requirements of the Bureau of

Aeronautics of the Navy Department and the Air

Corps of the Army, for materials, with a view to simplifying their manufacture, procurement, and stocking by the trade as well as by the services, the first standardization conference was held at McCook

Field in December, 1923.

It was agreed at the first meeting that the work of

standardization should be extended to cover hardware

and equipment as well as raw materials, and though

the first conference was devoted to materials alone, all subsequent meetings included in their agenda items

of hardware and equipment.

The work is handled under the supervision of two

officers, one an officer of the staff of the materiel division, usually the chief engineer, and the other an offi- cer of the materiel division of the Bureau of Aeronautics, the head of the specification group. These

officers select the subject for study, correspond with

the trade and each other, arrange for and conduct the

conference, and sign and promulgate the standardized master drawings and specifications. It has been

the custom to hold two meetings a year, the first, a preliminary conference, held in the winter alternately

at Wright Field and in Washington, and a main conference in the summer held alternately at Wright

Field and at the naval aircraft factory.

The work has gone forward steadily, strongly supported by the trade, to which such standardization means reduced production costs, simplified stock, and

fewer inspection difficulties. From a bare handful

of men seated around a small table the conference

grew to almost convention proportions. The meetings

of 1928 and 1929 were attended by from 200 to 300

manufacturers’ representatives. Since then the at- tendance has been tapering off—partly because of the

present business conditions—but principally because

most of the commonly used materials and parts have

been covered, and the meetings have become more

specialized.

From being just a standardization of requirements

between the two military services, the Army and Navy

standards have to a great extent become the standards

of the commercial aircraft industry as well. They

have been adopted, where applicable, practically in toto by the Society of Automotive Engineers as air- craft standards.

Probably one of the outstanding accomplishments

has been along the line of aircraft instruments, al- though at the beginning standardization appeared

almost hopeless. At that time the Army had switched

practically completely to the vertical scale instruLimits Toler- ance

Loss on ignition . . _ _ _ Per cent4. 00 Per cent

0. 25 Insoluble residue _ _ _ . _ _ _ .85 . 15 Sulphuric anhydride (SC> 3 )__ 2.00 . 10 Magnesia (MgO) 5.00 .40

ments. The Navy, on the other hand, was developing

a set of small diameter round dial instruments using

only two diameters. At the present time the instrument standardization is practically complete, the Navy

small round-dial instruments being used. In some

cases where ideas differ as to the “ innerds ” of an in- strument, standardization has consisted of seeing that

the case and mounting dimensions are the same so that they are interchangeable on the instrument

boards. The instrument standardizes’ work has now

come to be merely the correction and revision of exist- ing standards and the consideration of new instruments.

The benefits of the Army and Navy standardization

activities can not be measured wholty by the concrete

results in the form of specifications and drawings.

The personal contact between Army, Navy, and commercial personnel has done much to eliminate misunderstandings and to aid all hands in joining forces

in the main purpose, making the United States first in the air. WOOL AND PART-WOOL BLANKETS

The Commercial Standard for Wool and Part-Wool

Blankets, CS39-32 is now in printed form and is obtainable from the Superintendent of Documents,

Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C., at 5 cents per copy.

This standard protects the distributor and user of

blankets, by establishing a standard method of label- ing the percentage of wool contained in the finished

blanket, and a standard method of test for the determination of wool content.

It is effective for new production and clearance of

existing stocks December 31, 1932.

COLORS FOR GAS CYLINDERS

The British Standards Institution has issued a re- vision of its specification dealing with identification

colors for gas cylinders. It will be recalled that the

specification, first published in March, 1931, provided

for identification colors for the cylinders containing

the gases most commonly used, the underlying principle of the scheme being that yellow should represent the toxic or poisonous gases, and red or maroon,

the inflammable gases. The specification has now been extended to pro- vide for cylinders used for medical purposes, con- taining such gases as oxygen, carbon-dioxide, ethyl

chloride, ethylene, and nitrous oxide. The value of

the scheme is to be to some extent contingent upon

the general adoption of the standard valves specified

in specification No. 341—1931, of the British Standards Institution.
DECEMBER. 1932 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 143

NEW TYPES OF PAPER TESTING EQUIPMENT

As the result of recent work at the Bureau of Standards, three new instruments have been made available

for testing paper—one for measuring water resistance,

another for measuring the opposite quality of absorptiveness, and a third for removing coatings from paper

so that the paper base can be inspected and tested. It was found that about 40 methods are available

for measuring the rate of penetration of water, Avrit- ing fluids, etc., and, as might have been suspected from

their multiplicity, most of them are unsatisfactory

for the purpose. A simple and effective method was

developed, which consists in floating the paper on

water after having sprinkled on the upper surface of

the paper a little powder containing some water-soluble dye.

More recently a simple apparatus to facilitate the

test has been devised. The paper is clamped over a hole in the bottom of an aluminum float, a watch glass

and a spring clamp being used to hold it in place.

The float is placed on a vessel of water so that the

underside of the paper becomes wet. Before clamping the watch glass over the paper a little of the dry in- dicator powder is sprinkled on the upper surface bj? means of a shaker made of a small screw-cap vial in

the end of which is fastened a disk of fine-mesh wire

screen. A stop watch is used to determine the time

required for the water to penetrate through and cause

the color to develop in the powder.

Paper towels are required to absorb rapidly a thin

film of water from the skin. In testing paper toweling

for absorptive qualit}^ it is difficult to provide a film

of water of known, uniform thickness which can be

used to measure the relative time required by different

towels to absorb a given amount of water. Since the

towels are thin, only a very small volume of water can

be soaked up at any one spot. Hence, if one can place

very small drops of water of constant, known volume

on the different toAvels and measure the time required

for each to be absorbed, the testing conditions practically duplicate the service conditions, provided the

drops are so small that they are absorbed by sinking

into the paper rather than by spreading sideways very

much.

The Bureau of Standards has developed an apparatus for placing on the surface of paper accurately

measured drops of water little larger than the head

of a pin. The apparatus consists of a small graduated

pipette mounted at an angle and provided with a needle valve so that small, measured amounts of water

can be valved out and touched to the surface of the

paper to be tested. A stop watch is used to time the

absorption period.

Federal specifications for carbon paper require the

measurement of the ream weight of the tissue base on which the carbon coating is applied. It is a rather

difficult matter to remove the carbon coating completely from a fairly lai’ge sheet of carbon paper.

Formerly this was done, although with indifferent

success, by immersing the sheet in chloroform and

rubbing off the coating with pads of cotton. Obviously such a procedure would not be popular with the

laboratory or stock-room personnel.

An improved extractor and friction cleanser has

recently been developed, which can be used to clean

satisfactorily not only carbon paper but also a variety

of other sheet materials, such as Avaxed paper, case- lining paper, sheathing paper, balloon fabric, and

artificial leather in sheets nearly a foot square. The

apparatus consists of a special form of reflux con- denser in Avhieh the paper is carried on a rotating

cylinder and is scrubbed lightly Avith a brush. The

combination of fresh, hot solvent and scrubbing is very

effective. GLASS CONTAINERS FOR MAYONNAISE

AND KINDRED PRODUCTS

Simplified practice recommendation No. 131-32, cov- ering glass containers for mayonnaise and kindred

products, is now available in printed form, and can be

obtained from the Superintendent of Documents,

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

This recommendation, which was proposed and developed by the industry, provides a simplified list of

capacities of stock glass containers for these commodities, and has been instrumental in reducing the number of capacities from 25 to 5, or an 80 per cent elimination.

SIMPLIFICATION FOR ASPHALT

REAFFIRMED

Simplified practice recommendation No. 4, asphalt

(first revision) , has been reaffirmed, Avithout change, bv

the standing committee of the industry.

This action is based on a recent survey of production which showed that 94 per cent of the asphalt produced by the 16 companies reporting, conformed to penetrations recommended in the simplified schedule.

PAPER CONES AND TUBES

Simplified practice recommendation R143-32, paper

cones and tubes, has been accorded the required degree

of support by all interests in the industry, and is to be

effective from January 1 , 1933.

This simplification program, which Avas proposed

and developed by the industry, is concerned with the

length, inside diameter, Aveight per thousand, and color

of parallel paper cones and tubes. These cones and

tubes are used for winding textile materials, such as Avarp and knitting yarns, silk, rayon, hosiery yarns,

tire cord, thread packages, and Avire insulating yarns.

SAVINGS TO NAVAL-STORES INDUSTRY

Savings of hundreds of thousands of dollars a year

have been effected, and additional savings running

into the tens of millions a year are being sought in

research by the U. S. Department of Agriculture into

the problems of the naval-stores industry, according

to an announcement made by the Bureau of Chemistry

and Soils of that department.

Development of a system of standards for rosin has

had an estimated value of $100,000 a year to the in- dustry, and improvements in equipment and operation

of stills, developed by the Bureau of Chemistry and

Soils, are giving higher yields of turpentine and hotter grades of rosin, the statement said.
144 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY DECEMBER, 1932 LACK OF UNIFORMITY IN LABOR LAWS

A lack of standardization in employment hours for

women characterizes the Nation as a whole, while no

one State has regulated each industry or occupation by

the passage of all types of hour laws, according to a

recent statement made public by the Women’s Bureau

of the Department of Labor, dealing with labor laws

for women.

However, the statement pointed out, there are only

four States which are without legal limitation on the

hours of work to be performed. Using the 8-hour day

and 48-hour week for women as an example, it was

stated that six States have adopted this measure for

the protection of women workers.

APPLE WRAPS

General approval of the commercial standard for

paper apple wraps has been indicated by the ac- ceptance of this standard by^ practically all manufacturers of the product and by a large group of apple

packers. Accordingly, a letter announcing its adoption by the industry was circulated by the division

of trade standards on November 1. 1932. The standard concerns dry and oiled apple wraps

and specifies the method of packing, standard sizes and weights, oil content, bursting and tensile strength,

together with suitable tolerances and methods of

testing.

Mimeographed copies are obtainable gratis from

the division of trade standards, Bureau of Standards.

CONCRETE BUILDING UNITS

The required degree of support, by all interests in the industry, has been accorded simplified practice

recommendation No. R32-32, covering concrete building units, as revised by the industry’s standing committee at a meeting held on March 1, 1932.

In the modified simplified schedule, the length di- mension for three items was changed from the nominal dimension of 12 inches to the actual dimension of

11% inches; the maximum permissible variation for

block and tile, over and under the given dimensions, was placed at one-fourth inch ; and in the case on

concrete brick, it was decided to follow the tolerances

prescribed by the American Society for Testing Materials in connection with clay and sand-lime brick

masonry units, so that the tolerances for concrete brick will be one-sixteenth inch in height, one-eighth

inch in width, and one-fourth inch in length.

The revised recommendation became effective December 15, 1932.

FUEL OILS

Upon recommendation of the standing committee,

the Commercial Standard for Domestic and Industrial Fuel Oils, CS12-29, has been revised and given

the abbreviated title of “ Fuel Oils,” and will soon be

sent to the industry for acceptance.

Minor changes were recommended in the brief descriptions of the grades as indicated in Tables 1 and 2, but the most important change is the provision of a table of maximum sulphur content for grades 1 to 4, inclusive. This table is included for convenience in specifying fuel oil of low sulphur content used in con- nection with heat treatment, nonferrous metal, glass

and ceramic furnaces, and other special uses. Mimeographed copies of the recommended revision of the Commercial Standard for Fuel Oils are obtainable from the division of trade standards, Bureau of Standards, Washington, D. C.

STAPLE SEATS FOR WATER-CLOSET BOWLS

Following consideration of the adherence report on

the Commercial Standard for Staple Seats for WaterCloset Bowls, the standing committee recommended

the reaffirmation of the standard without change for

another year, or until an authorized revision is duly

indorsed by the industry and an announcement issued

to this effect. Eighty-eight per cent of production conforms to the

requirements of the commercial standard CS29-31

according to the unweighted average among those

reporting.

o


To determine whether an applicable specification exists for any

commodity—consult—

National Directory of

Commodity Specifications, 1932

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

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

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

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

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

comprehensive index.

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

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

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

lowering of costs and prices . —Herbert Hoover.

Complied by Bureau of Standards

MisceS laneous Publication No. 130

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

Price $1.75

Cloth bound

554 pages
THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

ROY D. CHAPIN, Secretary of Commerce

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

of the U. S. Department of Commerce, June 10, 1929

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

and 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.

BUREAU OF FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC COMMERCE,

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

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

consular officers, and its distribution through weekly Commerce

Reports, bulletins, confidential circulars, the news and trade

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

cooperative offices in 65 cities. The maintenance of commodity,

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

and agents for American products in all parts of the world and

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

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

fundamental technical data. Collection and dissemination of information concerning

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

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

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

utilization of minerals, including the study of mine hazards and

safety methods and of improved methods in the production

and use of minerals.

BUREAU OF MINES—Continued.

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

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

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

BUREAU OF FISHERIES, Henry O’Malley, Commissioner.

The propagation and distribution of food fish and shellfish,

in order to prevent the depletion of the fisheries; investigations

to promote conservation of fishery resources; the development

of commercial fisheries and agriculture; study of fishery methods,

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

Commissioner.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Assistant Directors. Superintendence of commercial marine and merchant seamen.

Construction and administration of navigation laws covering

documentation, ship mortgage act, entry and clearance, move- ment of vessels, welfare of seamen, admeasurement, load line, adjudication of fines, collection of fees, tonnage tax, etc. Compilation of Federal statistics of tonnage and merchant seamen. The inspection of merchant vessels, including boilers, hulls, and life-saving equipment, licensing of officers of vessels, certi- fication of able seamen and lifeboatmen, and the investigation

of violations of steamboat inspection laws. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE, Thomas E. Robertson,

Commissioner.

The granting of patents and the registration of trade-marks,

prints, and labels after technical examination and judicial

proceedings.

Maintenance of library with public search room, containing

copies of foreign and United States patents and trade-marks. Recording bills of sale, assignments, etc., relating to patents

and trade-marks. Furnishing copies of records pertaining to patents. Publication of the weekly Official Gazette, showing the patents and trade-marks issued.

U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I