COMMERCIAL

STANDARDS

MONTHLY

A Review of Progress in

Commercial Standardization and Simplification

ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS OF THE

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

Vol. 6, No. 10 APRIL, 1930

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

R. P. Lamont, Secretary

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

George K. Burgess, Director

COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY

S. F. Tillman, Editor

DIVISIONS OF THE COMMERCIAL STANDARDIZATION GROUP

DIVISION OF SIMPLIFIED PRACTICE, Edwin W. Ely.

The division of simplified practice was formed in November,

1921, to provide a clearing house or centralizing agency through

which the manufacturer, distributor, and consumer groups

could meet to discuss their common problems and decide upon

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

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

recommendations that industry develops under the auspices

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

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

and who would be unwilling to coojierate, except through some

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

of all interested elements thereof, the project is then presented

to the entire industry by letter referendum for its approval and

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

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

users concerned.

BUILDING AND HOUSING DIVISION, J. S. Taylor.

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

building codes and to encourage improved standards for the

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

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

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

throughout the year, and to secure less fluctuation from year

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

the broad objective of buildings made more useful because

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

street system, and appropriate public works. Good city

planning and zoning likewise encourages stability in land

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

DIVISION OF SPECIFICATIONS, A. S. McAllister.

The duties of the division of specifications are to promote and

facilitate the use and unification of specifications. In doing so

it carries on activities involving cooperation with technical

societies; trade associations; Federal, State, and municipal

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

laboratories. The cooperation with technical societies and

trade associations includes ascertaining the standardization

and specification promoting activities of these organizations,

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

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

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

specifications and standards, thereby assisting in broadening

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

have expressed their willingness to certify to purchasers, upon

request, that material supplied by them on contracts based on

certain Federal specifications or commercial standards comply

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

derived by them as both buyers and sellers from handling

nationally specified, certified, and labeled commodities. The

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

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

DIVISION OF TRADE STANDARDS, I. J. Fairchild.

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

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

the commercial standard in writing before it is published by

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

standards. Provision is made for regular revision of the standard through the appointment of a standing committee to consider

periodically any necessity for revision of the standard, in order that it may be kept constantly compatible with progress in the

industry.

Except where otherwise indicated, for further information address

BUREAU OF STANDARDS

WASHINGTON, D. C.
COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY

A Review of Progress in

Commercial Standardization and Simplification

Volume 6 WASHINGTON, D. C., APRIL, 1930 Number 10

CONTENTS

FEATURE ARTICLES

Advantages of standardizing agricultural products 303

A perspective of simplification movement 312

Applying simplification to a “business as a whole” 305

Building codes affect use of materials 315

Joint standards agency for electrical industry 293

Need for standardization in road building 296

Quality of leather improved by studies of tanning

methods 309

Quality standards sought to guide consumers 301

Savings through standardization of concrete building

units 299

Trends in buying stimulate standardization 308

Value of American marine standards to the shipbuilding

industry 294

SIMPLIFIED PRACTICE NEWS

Adherence to simplified practice 319

Baggage simplification 319

Keeping simplifications up-to-date 304

Simplification of arbor holes for saws and grinding wheels. 302

Simplification news 295

Simplification recommendations reaffirmed by industry. 318

Styles of types to be selected by printing industry 314

FOREIGN NEWS

British specification for oil switches 304

British specification for tar 311

Charging plugs for electric vehicles 313

Czechoslovakian bureau for central rationalization 318

New British publication on timber testing 311 New standard for gray-iron castings 298

Packing methods and materials standardized 317

Revised British specification for copper wire 313

RESEARCH NEWS

Accelerated weathering tests for spar varnish 319

Welding research beneficial 300

STANDARDIZATION NEWS Pag0 Architects develop standard documents 317

Building code survey in progress 307

Cement specifications 320

Commercial Standards Monthly 297

Current activities of the American Standards Association. 316

Dimensions of hollow masonry building units 319

Federal specifications now in new form 298 Guarantee labels to identify silk quality 314

High-temperature insulation materials 297

Management congress 320

Nailed wooden oil-well derricks 318

New marine standard specification proposed 313

New sawing system profitably converts small logs to lumber 318

Overdiversification in manufacture may mean failure. _ 297

Proposed specifications for ship steel 313

Specification for oil-burning apparatus and fuel oil on

ships approved 308

Specifications for plastering 320

Standards are proposed for medicinal tablets 311

Standards permit maximum production 313

Standard insulator tests 318

Standards needed in publishing field 312

Suggested national standardization of employment

requirements 318

Uniform outfits for merchant marine officers 294

Uniformity in traffic control 321

Weights and measures report released 320

What time is it? 311

TRADE STANDARDS NEWS

Cedar closet lining 315

Commercial grade standard for plywood 304

Feldspar 304 Men’s pajamas 302

Plain and thread plug and ring-gage blanks 302

AN INVITATION TO VISIT THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

arts and industries.

George K. Burgess, Director.

104879—30—-1

( 291 )
THE VALUE of SAFETY CODES

Accident Prevention Promoted Through

the Establishment of Safety Codes

\FETY CODES deal with all three methods of eliminating

accidents, that is, design of plant, mechanical safeguarding,

and operating practices. Accident prevention may be greatly

promoted by both employers and employees and there are

a number of voluntary agencies interested in this work,

such as the National Safety Council and the American

Association for Labor Legislation. It has been found necessary, however, for the State government to step in and exercise supervisory control over industrial establishments in order to achieve the best results, especially

in the smaller plants which do not have an internal safety organization.

The principal activity by which State officials can reduce accidents is the in- spection of factories and other work places with insistence that they shall be so constructed andjaperated as to provide for the safety and health of employees.

In making such inspections, the inspector needs some standard of comparison by

which to judge of the conditions which he encounters. For different inspectors

to treat different cases upon a uniform basis it is necessary to have established

standards subject to change only by definite action of the administrative authority

and capable of being known to factory managers, manufacturers of machinery,

employees, and others concerned with them before installations are made. It is then possible for such persons to plan their installations so as to meet the reauirements of the State officials. It is also possible for casualty insurance inspectors

and State inspectors to make uniform rulings.

Whatever legal form the regulations may take, it is desirable that they be’as

definite as possible, drawn up so as to be easily understood, available, in printed

form for the guidance of all concerned, and given very thorough consideration by

all parties interested, before their mandatory adoption. Such a code of safety rules

is valuable not only for mandatory enforcement by administrative authorities

and for authorized inspectors, but as a guide to the industry in improving its methods and modifying its previous practices. Many manufacturers are glad to

make improvements in the physical condition of their plants when the possibility

of such improvements is pointed out to them, and many of them are eager to apply

any information which will improve the welfare of their employees.

( 292 )
293

JOINT STANDARDS AGENCY FOR ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY

1

American Institute of Electrical Engineers Has Approved Formation of Joint Agency of Electrical Industry

for Development of Standards

By Hakold B. Smith, President, American Institute of Electrical Engineers

f

At the meeting of the board of directors held January 29, important action was taken concerning the

standards work of the institute. This matter is of so much importance that the attention of members should

be called to it at this initial stage of the movement

to invite their thoughtful consideration. The resolutions adopted by the directors follow : The American Institute of Electrical Engineers, recognizing that other organizations in the electrical industry have the same fundamental interest in electrical standardization as the

A. I. E. E., namely, aiding in and guiding the proper development of the electrical industry in the United States, hereby

resolves: That the American Institute of Electrical Engineers

approves in principle the formation of a joint agency of the

electrical industry for the purpose of carrying out the necessary

standardization activities of that industry. It is contemplated

that this agency shall have three distinct functions: (a) The

Electrical Standards Committee of the Electrical Industry in the United States of America, (h) The Electrical Advisory

Committee of the American Standards Association, (c) The

United States National Committee of the International Elec- trotechnical Commission and of any other international organizations for the handling of electrical matters. Resolves: That

the president of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers

is hereby authorized to take appropriate steps to propose this action to the interested electrical associations, preferably

through the Electrical Advisory Committee of the American

Standards Association. And further resolves: That the insti- tute declares it to be its intention that on the consummation of an organization satisfactory to the institute for this purpose,

the institute, in general, will refer to that body the consideration and approval of standards in which it is interested. Proposed action initial step.

It will be noted that the only step taken at this time

is to propose and indorse a contemplated and appropriate action. If the proposal is favorably considered

by other electrical associations, an organizing committee will be formed which will determine the character and powers of the proposed industry standards

committee. Consequently details are not involved at present and the only purpose at this time is to call at- tention to the general situation and to jiresent some of

the reasons that led the directors to take this initial step.

Conditions in the electrical standards field have

changed greatly during the past 10 or 15 years. In

the early years of standards activity the institute was

the only organization active in preparing electrical

standards. There was a need which the institute

recognized and filled acceptably. In the international field, when the International Electrotechnical

Commission was formed, the institute also became re- sponsible for the United States National Committee.

Mainly during the past 10 years commercial associations and the United States Government have developed active interest in standards. The American

Standards Association has been formed and expanded

and the United States Committee of the International Electrotechnical Commission has been made

autonomous. In both these latter developments the

institute has had a major responsibility. As a result

of these changes many new interests have been developed in the standards field and these interests have

overlapped and jurisdictional difficulties have arisen.

“ Standard ” implies single authority.

The word “ standard ” implies a single authority to

set up standards. With many bodies in the electrical

field setting up standards, more or less independently,

there has been unnecessary duplication of effort, unnecessary expenditures of time and money, and, in some instances, a defeat of the very purpose of es- tablishing a common standard.

The organization of the American Engineering

Standards Committee 12 years ago was a forward step

for which the American Institute of Electrical Engineers was largely responsible. It has occupied a part

of the field above that now under consideration. The

foundation of its work has been the standards of

organizations, such as the institute. The American

Engineering Standards Committee and its successor, the American Standards Association, starts where the

electrical organizations stop. It has been able to do

little (by reason of constitutional limits) to eliminate

duplication and jurisdictional difficulties among its member associations. As existing American Institute

of Electrical Engineers standards are submitted to the

American Standards Association (the successor of the

American Engineering Standards Committee) , and

sectional committees are formed, the revision of such

American standards pass automatically from the

American Institute of Electrical Engineers’ Standards Committee to the sectional committees of the

American Standards Association. Gradually, then,

standards work in established fields is passing to the

committees established by American Standards Association procedure. In new fields, the present confusion

Avill continue in spite of anything the American

Standards Association can be expected to do. The increase in number of American associations

interested in standard work has also complicated the

work of the United States Committee of the Inter- national Electrotechnical Commission. The relations

between this international standards body and the

American Standards Association has also presented

difficulties of an organization nature. With so many

associations having a voice, how can the United States

Committee of the International Electrotechnical Commission determine the American position on any ques- tion? This situation has been very humiliating to American delegates to International Electrotechnical

Commission meetings and American influence and in- terests have suffered. Movement benefits industry and institute.

The broad purpose of this movement, which the

institute has indorsed, is to unify standards effort in

the electrical field, nationally and internationally.

The directors believe there exists an opportunity for

the institute to again serve the industry and the profession by contributing the experience and the facili- ties of the institute to this cooperating effort. If this

movement succeeds, both the industry and the institute

will benefit.
294

VALUE OF AMERICAN MARINE STANDARDS TO THE SHIPBUILDING INDUSTRY

Standards for Ships’ Parts and Marine Equipment Insure Greater Interchangeability, Ease of Replacement, and Economical Production-—Shipping Board Makes Use of American Marine Standards—Their

Use Is Optional

Col. E. A. Simmons, American Marine Standards Committee

In applying the principles of standardization to shipbuilding, the American Marine Standards Committee, which was organized seven years ago by the

marine industries themselves to simplify practice and

reduce the cost of building and operating ships, is carrying out what is, perhaps, the most important and

beneficial project now going on in the practical side of

shipbuilding.

High prices of materials and labor in the United

States have prevented American shipbuilders from

competing successfully with foreign shipyards in

building vessels for overseas trade. This condition obviously calls for a united effort on tbe part of the shipbuilders to reduce the cost of shipbuilding in any practical way that will not impair the efficiency of the

product. The work of the American Marine Standards Committee is a step in this direction that is proving increasingly effective as standard practices are agreed upon and adopted in the shipyards.

Up to the present time more than 100 American

marine standards have been promulgated, approximately half of which relate to hull details, the re- mainder being about equally divided between engineering or machinery details and ship operation details and supplies. Except for the fact that the

United States Shipping Board requires the use of

these standards in all vessels built or reconditioned

with aid of a Government loan, the use of the standards is in no way compulsory. They are issued as recommended practice and represent the best experi- ence and thought of the industry itself, voluntarily

given by individuals in an effort to improve the standards of practice in order that the industry as a ivhole

may enjoy the benefits of safety and economy which

will result from their adoption.

Membership controls.

The underlying governing power in the organization which was formed for carrying out this work,

is vested in a membership enrolled from the various

elements of the marine and allied industries. This

membership is composed of member bodies constituted

by the interests themselves and represented by the

members designated by the member bodies. An ex- ecutive board elected annually from and by the membership, appoints and controls the administrative offi- cers and technical and special committees, directs the

general policies, and outlines the technical working

program. The administrative details devolve upon

the chairman and the secretary, the latter being in

effect the executive officer for all activities. From the start the work of the American Marine

Standards Committee has received the cooperation of

the Department of Commerce, the United States Shipping Board, the War and Navy Departments, and

all other branches of the Government concerned in

any way with marine activities. At the time of

organization, the executive office was made a unit

of the division of simplified practice of the National

Bureau of Standards, and that arrangement is still in effect. The work of the committee is handled by three main

divisions, the first deals with hull details, the second

with engineering or machinery details, and the third

with ship-operation details and supplies. Recently a fourth division, covering port facilities, has been

added. Each of these technical divisions is headed

and supervised by a technical committee appointed

by the executive board. These technical committees

organize subject committees for the development of

standards. The personnel of the technical and subject committees is drawn from the field at large’ and

is not confined to the membership.

Periodicals reviewed for improvement.

One of the important functions of the committee is to review its publications from time to time with a view to their possible improvement and in order to keep abreast of developments in the industry and in

the service requirements. Users of the standards are asked to cooperate in this by submitting constructive

suggestions.

Man}i of the American marine standards are in

agreement with the Navy’s standards and have been

put into practical use by the Bureau of Construction

and Repair. They are being used wherever possible

in ships built for the Coast Guard service and for the

Coast and Geodetic Survey and are being widely

adopted by the shipyards, naval architects, and ship owners in the building of merchant vessels. In this work of standardizing shipbuilding practice no attempt is being made to standardize ships and their

machinery as a whole. Ships of standard size and

types were built in this country during the World War

in order to meet an abnormal demand for producing

the greatest number of ships in the shortest possible

time. At that time all other considerations became

seeondaiy to speed and quantity of production. In

peace times, however, the ordinary demands of com- merce are not such as to warrant the production of

ships on a strictly standardized or manufacturing

basis except in special cases. Substantial reductions

in cost of construction are possible where several sister ships are built in the same yard for the same service,

but, in general, the requirements of individual owners

are so diversified that they can not be met economically

by the bulk production of stock ships.

Standard for ships’ details.

While the standardization of vessels as a whole

offers no advantage at present in this country, on ac- count of the diversified character of the market for

ships, standardization of ships’ details, particularly

of fittings and equipment, offers a distinct advantage

to the shipbuilder as a means for simplifying practice
295

and saving time and money in production. And it is in this direction that the work of the American

Marine Standards Committee has so far been chiefly

directed.

The whole aim is the simplification and standardization of such parts of ships’ equipment and outfit as are supplied in duplicate or quantity or which under

ordinary conditions of operation are likely to call for more or less frequent replacement or repair. While

the complete standardization of such parts might eventually be desirable and beneficial, the vital point so far

as the shipbuilding industry is concerned is the unifi- cation of the connections of fittings to each other, or

to the main structure of the vessel. The general characteristics of the fitting become of secondary importance provided its connection to the structure of the

vessel or to other fittings conforms to a universally

adopted standard. In this way the advantage is gained of the prompt availability of parts for repairs

and renewals, the economy of which is apparent.

For portable fittings and equipment the problem of

attachment is supplanted by that of stowage, and

standardization of such equipment involves both di- mensions and shapes. Material of this character is usually supplied more or less in quantity; its production involves manufacturing methods and the importance of reduction in numbers and variety in designs

SIMPLIFICATION NEWS

Following a conference held in Chicago in January,

to consider the simplified practice recommendation

covering sizes of fruit and vegetable cans, the National

Canners Association has taken initial steps looking

toward a second survey among their members to obtain additional data which may result in a further

elimination of the sizes of cans. The Bureau of

Standards is cooperating in this survey. It is ex- pected that this survey will be completed by May in order that the data which is acquired may be submitted to the May meeting of the board of directors

of the National Canners Association.

The national survey of wrapping and packing

methods and supplies which the Bureau of Standards

is carrying on in cooperation with the National Retail

Dry Goods Association was actually started on March 15.

The National Association of Purchasing Agents, at the meeting of their executive board in New Orleans in

February, took initial steps looking toward the appointment of a committee to represent the large buyers

of steel office equipment. The purpose of this committee will be to make recommendations to the manufacturers through the division of simplified practice.

Recent meetings of standing committees, representing different branches of the chinaware industry re- affirmed the following recommendations : S. P. R. No. 5,

and the standardization of sizes and shapes is corres- pondingly increased. In this direction standardization has its greatest and most obvious sphere of

usefulness.

Interchangeability important.

Interchangeability is also an important asset in the

standardization of ships’ details, as standard fittings

and equipment are usable on any vessel and delays in

obtaining spare parts are materially reduced if not

entirely eliminated. Incidentally, from the point of

view of the shipowners, interchangeability of the personnel is equally important; for the crew of one ship can readily understand the operation of another ship

if standardized equipment is installed.

The standardization of ships’ details is not a new

or novel departure for the shipbuilders. Hitherto

each established yard has built up its own standards

for the purpose of reducing the cost of construction

in its own plant, but there has been no uniformity in

the standards in the different yards, and, for this reason, they have failed to benefit the industry as a whole.

The creation of the American Marine Standards

Committee has established a common ground on which

differences are being reconciled and uniformity of

practice attained to the mutual advantage of the shipbuilder and the shipowner.

hotel chinaware; S. P. R. No. 33, cafeteria and res- taurant chinaware; S. P. R. No. 39, dining-car china- ware; and S. P. R. No. 40, hospital chinaware. The

present schedule will continue in force without change

for another year.

At a general conference held in New York on February 6, a simplified schedule covering the sizes and

classifications for inflated rubber toy balls was approved. The list of sizes applies to mold diameters

in which these balls are formed, and includes allow- ances for oversizes as manufacturing tolerances.

Manufacturers and distributors are now being cir- cularized for acceptances of this program and later announcement will be made of the results of this

circularization.

A general conference of manufacturers, distributors,

and users of dental hypodermic needles was held on June 17, 1929, at White Sulphur Springs, W. Va., in

conjunction with the annual meeting of the American

Dental Trade Association and unanimously adopted

a simplifled schedule for this commodity. The program establishes as stock varieties, the gages and

lengths of different types of needles used by the dental

profession, and lists the material from which these

needles are made. The program was developed by

the simplification and standardization committee of

the American Dental Trade Association, as one of a

series of simplification programs in the dental supply

field.
296

NEED FOR STANDARDIZATION IN ROAD BUILDING

Committee of Road Builders to Study Need for Standard Working Equipment and Specifications for

Grading Methods

By Lyle A. Brookovek, American Road Builders Association

Reduction of the cost of grading operations, which

is the first step in road building, is the ultimate aim of an investigation of grading methods and grading

equipment which has been undertaken by a committee

of the American Road Builders Association. Another

result of the year’s survey doubtless will be the submission to the road building industry of standard

specifications for grading methods and recommendation of standard equipment with which to do the work.

The committee, of which B. E. Grey, State maintenance engineer, West Virginia department of highways, is chairman, is made up of engineers, highway

educators in universities, contractors, editors from

the technical press, and representatives from several

manufacturers of grading equipment. P. F. Seward,

of the American Road Builders Association, has been

assigned to the committee as a special investigator.

The first investigation probably will have to do with

the construction of embankments. This item is of

vital interest to all arms of the highway industry, and

represents a field in which a thorough investigation

will be most timely. The first thing that impresses

anyone studying a digest of specifications as to grading methods is the wide variation of practice governing the simplest phases of the work.

Need of uniformity.

To be sure, one can understand readily enough that

conditions in Colorado are different from those pre- vailing in Florida, and that possibly there is a proper

reason for different classifications of excavation pavement for slides, and overbreakage, but when two adjoining States doing work in practically the same

formation call in one instance for classified excavation

and in the other for unclassified, and in one instance

do not allow any extras, while in another, allowance is made under certain restrictions, it is obvious that

either one or the other, or both, are somewhat in error

in their requirements.

Why should one State require solid rock excavation

to be made 6 inches below the subgrade, another 8, another 10, another 12, and still another 24. To be

sure, various depths might be required because of

frost action, but the difference between States is not

based upon any such distinction, as, for instance,

Louisiana calls for 12 inches while Maine specifies only

4 inches. Certainly the pavement construction is practically the same no matter what the geographic

location in this respect.

For another instance, one State provides a free haul

limit of 300 feet, another 500, a third 1,000, a fourth

of 2,000, and still another of 5,000. Obviously these can not all be justified by variation of conditions, but

rather have become established because some engineer

back in the beginning of road construction chanced

to select a particular figure. In the method of placing

embankments, certain States permit types of equipment which are prohibited in others. Some States re- quire embankments to be placed in layers 8 inches in

depth, others 1 foot, and others 2 feet. These specifications undoubtedly have come into being in the same way as the overhaul variations.

Variation of equipment.

With regard to equipment, we find again a large

variation; different States requiring different types

and weights of rollers, some insisting that fills be

puddled, others being of the opinion that such methods

are unnecessary, while still others insist upon jetting

and sprinkling, or having a requirement for rolling

with various special designs of roller wheels.

In every line of endeavor, it has been proven that

the more nearly standard any operation becomes, the

lower the unit cost. Road building has reached such

a tremendous development that contractors work to- day not only in one county or one State, but over a number of States and even countries. It must be

apparent that if a contractor keeps a record of his

costs on any particular job in accordance with the re- quirements for that job, he has valuable information

upon which to base his bid for the next piece of work

under the same conditions.

Benefits from standardization.

From the foregoing it is evident that need for

standardization exists in so far as such standards may

be adapted to the variation in geographic conditions.

Some of the benefits which may be expected to come from such standardization are as follows

The State might well expect to receive lower bids

if all other States had similar specifications for the same class of work. Any extra manipulation required

is an extra item of cost, and if after a careful study some of these can be eliminated without injuring the

finished work, lower costs, increased speed of construction, and a better understanding could be had all around.

For the contractor, the definite knowledge that for a given class of work, he would be required to follow

the same procedure anywhere in the country. By having this standard, training of personnel to a higher

degree of efficiency, and reduction in amount of equipment required would result. For the manufacturer, a definite program of improvement along established equipment requirements

could be had with the knowledge that various States would not be calling for special equipment of odd sizes or peculiar characteristics. Such knowledge would

permit careful attention to volume production with

subsequent reduction of unit costs, greater profits to the manufacturer, and at the same time show a saving

to the contractor and the general public.
297

OVERDIVERSIFICATION IN MANUFACTURE MAY MEAN FAILURE

Lack of Standardization in Furniture Plant Almost Resulted in Bankruptcy—Standards for Designs

Promote Economical Production

How the lack of standardization in a woodworking plant nearly forced the plant into bankruptcy,

which was avoided only by a drastic change in policy,

is described in a recent issue of the magazine, Wood

Worker. A certain concern in the South, manufacturing high-grade dining-room furniture, was nearly

forced into bankruptcy through failure of its superintendent to conduct the business in a systematic manner. A recent alteration in the managerial policy

has resulted in a decided change for the better. This concern manufactures a great and ever-changing variety of designs, and its previous methods of

construction were devoid of anything like a standardization of parts or uniformity of basic dimensions.

Because of the almost indefinite variety of styles produced it was thought impossible to establish any sys- tem of standardization, and as a result the parts left over from one lot of suites could not be utilized in any

subsequent lot. When the superintendent of this plant had run

things on this plan until every nook and corner was

filled with nonusable odds and ends of left overs, he

began to do some hard thinking and came to the conclusion that it was time to alter his tactics. Production systematized.

The upshot of it all was that a system was introduced whereby the width, depth, and height of each

respective piece of furniture is always made the same,

regardless of the special ornamentation in the way of

turnings, molded edges of tops, face veneering and

overlays which are used to differentiate one style from

another. Thus the drawer sides, backs, and bottoms on each standard-size buffet are always the same, al- though there might be a difference in the veneering

and ornamentation of the drawer fronts. The same

things applies to all the unit parts of each piece

manufactured.

In addition to a vast saving in material, this system

has greatly simplified the problem of production. All

machining operations have been standardized, and as each unit produced is in all respects the same as items

produced many times previously, the workmen acquire a high degree of efficiency. By utilizing the principles of standardization, this business has been lifted

from chaos to system and success. British have standards.

Another item bearing on standardization in woodworking industries is found in Factory and Industrial Management in an article, A Leaf From British

Practice, by R. W. Reid, vice president of the Carriage

and Wagon Works, London, Midland, and Scottish

Railway Co., arid F. J. FI. Lemon, carriage and wagon

siqierintendent of the same plant.

When it was first suggested that modern machining

methods might be extended to woodwork, involving

machining to size within close limits and inspection

with limit gages, the reply was that wood would warp

01 shrink after machining, and assembly without hand

fitting was impractical. Careful conversion, followed

by thorough seasoning of the timber, has proved these

fears groundless.

Standardization of design, the first step toward eco- nomical production, led to drafting of definite standards for vehicles required in railway traffic. And

where such designs could be modified in order to in- crease the number of items dealt with by one machine

at one setting, and so reduce the unit cost, this was

done. Also the plant was laid out, as far as the existing shop buildings would allow, to effect a sequence

of operations to reduce handling to a minimum.

HIGH TEMPERATURE INSULATION MATERIALS

Tentative final drafts of standard specifications for

molded insulation coverings for temperatures over

550° F. ; diatomaceous earth, granular, calcined ; and

insulating brick and mortar have been submitted to the membership and others concerned for comment

and ballot vote. The next meeting of the executive board has been

set for April 18. It is expected that the results of

the ballot votes on the above items will be available

for report at that meeting.

UNIFORM OUTFITS FOR MERCHANT-MARINE

OFFICERS

The American Marine Standards Committee has

developed proposed standard specifications comprising

a description of the uniform outfit, and of rank and

corps insignia, for licensed, staff, and petty officers,

also specifications for blue uniforms, hot-weather uniforms, caps, overcoats, raincoats, buttons, and gold

and silver lace, with an appendix on care of the uniform. The preliminary draft has been submitted to the membership and others interested for comment

and ballot vote.

COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY

The circulation of the Commercial Standards

Monthly has shown a decided increase since its initial appearance in July of this year. The figures are

as follows

July 887 August 1, 041 September 1, 197 October 1, 426

November 1, 609 December ! 2, 008 January 2,626

February 3, 068 March 3, 457
298

NEW STANDARD FOR GRAY IRON CASTINGS

British Engineering Standards Now Based on Research Carried Out by British Cast Iron Research

Association

Due principally to researches made under the

auspices of the British Cast Iron Research Association, new British engineering standards have been

issued covering test pieces for gray iron castings. In

the past, it is to be feared that the use and interpretation of test coupons has been perfunctory and casual,

because everyone connected with the design and production was aware that the mechanical properties

varied appreciably with the thickness of the section;

nevertheless one size of test bar did duty for everything from an engine bed plate to a small bell crank.

Research has made it quite clear that the average

tensile strength of gray iron decreases, the thicker the

sections, since the rate of cooling in the mold profoundly affects the solidified metal. This is particularly noticeable in large masses, the outside surfaces

setting considerably before the inner metal. Consequently, there is a comparatively weak and spongy

core encased within a harder shell. Both tensile and transverse test pieces are now

graded in cross section to suit the material they are intended to represent. For tensile tests there are three

standard diameters to represent three distinct ranges

of casting thickness. Disparities are thus reduced

within narrow limits.

Three thicknesses and two grades.

For transverse tests, too, three sizes of circular bar

are now made to serve for these three casting thick- ness ranges. Values for the breaking loads are also

tabulated to accord not only with the nominal diameters but also with small casting variations therefrom.

This is just as it ought to be, because bending stress varies inversely as the diameter cubed. Because metal

in the casting crystallizes radially, this should favor

the circular shape rather than rectangular bars for

bending tests. Furthermore, square corners are a source of weakness, since they tend toward the formation of, always undesirable, cleavage planes. It is thus doubly appropriate that the test piece should more nearly approximate the condition enforced by

correct design ; that is, that liberal fillets and semicircular or well-rounded terminal contours be provided.

Briefly, the new provisions for the tensile test are as follows : A %-inch diameter cast bar is turned in the

FEDERAL SPECIFICATIONS NOW IN NEW

FORM

First Specification Available in New Form Covers Automobile

Tires

Federal specifications are now being printed in a revised form. The first specification to become available in the new size and form arrangement is that

covering “Tires; automobile, pneumatic,” which will

become mandatory for all Federal Government purwaist to 0.564 inch and this serves to represent castings

up to and including %-inch thick; a 1.2-inch cast bar

is turned to 0.798 inch waist diameter to answer for

casting thicknesses above % and up to 2 inches, while

for thicker pieces a 2.2-inch cast bar is turned to a waist diameter of 1.785 inches. In each case the gage

points are a minimum of 2 inches apart. The minimum ultimate tensile strengths for these three bars

are 12, 11, and 10 gross tons per square inch, respectively, for grade A material and 10 and 9 gross tons

per square inch for grade C cast iron. It may appear somewhat contradictory to machine

the cast specimens to a considerably smaller diameter.

It does sacrifice some of the strongest material, but

it removes surface inequalities characteristic of a cast bar. Practical considerations enforce a compromise,

and the balance probably gives a close approximation

to the correct result. Values specified for round transverse test bars.

Transverse test pieces nominally % inch diameter,

15 inches long, to span supports 12 inches apart, are made for castings up to and including % inch thick;

1.2 and 2.2-inch diameter bars, 21 inches long for

18-inch spans represent castings between % inch and

2 inches and above 2 inches, respectively. Great pains

have been taken in tabulating central loads and deflec- tions for the three thicknesses and for both grades of

iron, for diametrical variations in steps of plus and

minus 0.05 inch. As illustrating the effect of plus or minus 0.10 inch in grade A material, a transverse bar

0.775 inch diameter must carry a minimum of 835

pounds, whereas the load for a bar 0.975 inch diameter

reaches 1,620 pounds.

Modulus of rupture does not appear in the specification, but is a useful relative value. It al^> de- creases as the casting thickness increases. The approved figures are : 54,000, 50,900 and 43,000 pounds

per square inch in grade A iron; 43,900, 42,400, and

38,500 pounds per square inch for grade C iron corre- sponding to the three sizes of bar.

The specification permits the use of bars either cast on or cast separate^, as the engineer may prefer. If

the latter, it is stipulated that the bars must be poured

at the same time from the same melt as the castings

they represent.

chasing agencies on May 1, 1930. In the upper righthand corner of the first page of the printed pamphlet

appears the specification symbol used in the Federal

Standard Stock Catalogue for the commodity. Copies

of this Federal Specification ZZ-T-381 may be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C., for 5 cents per copy. At the same time it is of interest to note that an alphabetical index of Federal specifications may be obtained at a cost of 5 cents each,

through the same agency.
299

SAVINGS THROUGH STANDARDIZATION OF CONCRETE BUILDING UNITS

Recent Survey of Program Indicates Potential Savings to Manufacturers, Retailers, and Builders Through

Simplification of Unit Sizes for Block, Tile, and Brick

By J. F. McNeil, Division of Simplified Practice

Now that the winter snows have melted and the frosts

have left the ground, once again the familiar clamor

of the steam shovel, the rumbling motor truck, the

rattling concrete mixer, and the rat-a-tat-tat of the

rivet hammer heralds the usual speeding up of springtime construction work.

Because of the attention now directed toward construction it is of special interest to note the results

of a recently completed survey among the acceptors

of the simplified practice recommendation for concrete building units (block, tile, and brick). The

benefits enumerated herein may inspire other industries to inaugurate similar simplification programs.

At least, they should bring home to this particular in- dustry the fact that the

success of their simplified

schedule depends upon con- tinued adherence.

Simplification program

studied.

The need for a simplification program for concrete building units was real- ized during 1922, and was

forcefully brought to the

attention of the members of

the industry by several

articles, which appeared in

trade publications, expressing regret that nothing had

been done to curb diversification. In June of the following year, a subcommittee of

Committee P-1 of the American Concrete Institute was appointed to study this problem and to decide

upon a procedure which would result in the simplification of sizes. This subcommittee, at the invitation of

the division of simplified practice, met at the

Department of Commerce, Washington, D. C., on June 21, 1923, and discussed in general a proposed

simplification program.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the concrete block and

tile machinery manufacturers was arranged for July

30 and 31. Definite proposals for standard-sized

concrete brick and blocks were made at this latter conference. The question of tile sizes was not con- sidered then, but was held over for future discussion.

The recommended sizes of block, tile, and brick,

which were submitted to the American Concrete Institute in convention, in February, 1924, were approved by that organization, and in turn were trans- mitted to the division of simplified practice.

Conference approves recommended sizes.

Conforming to the usual procedure of the division, a general conference of manufacturers, distributors.

104879—30 2

and users was called for October 16, 1924, at Chicago,

111. The findings of the Committee P-1 were used

as a basis of discussion. The question of the size of

mortar joint seemed to be an important factor to be

decided, prior to the adoption of any standard sizes

of building units and after much discussion, it was

the consensus of opinion that certain sizes of concrete blocks be adopted with an allowance of sufficient tolerance to permit either the use of one-fourth or

three-eighths inch mortar joint. The adoption of this ' tolerance changed the recommended sizes of these

blocks as submitted by Committee P-1.

The recommended sizes for concrete building tile, as submitted by the above-mentioned committee, were unanimously approved. As

these sizes pertain only

to load-bearing wall tile, it was the consensus of

opinion that the same sizes of standard-partition tile as agreed upon by the claytile industry would also

meet the entire demand

for concrete tile, and, upon

vote, six sizes of partition

tile were approved as standard.

The discussion on the

sizes of concrete brick developed the fact that only one of the sizes as recom- mended by the committee was necessary. This size,

therefore, was approved as standard.

It was further agreed that this recommendation

should become effective from June 1, 1925. The di- vision of simplified practice was also requested by the

conference to circularize the entire industry for their

written acceptance and to appoint a standing committee of the industry, the principal functions of

which would be to maintain contact between the in- dustiy and the division and to determine the adequacy

of the recommendation through annual review. These

requests were accordingly fulfilled. The recommendation as adopted was instrumental

in effecting a reduction in variety from 115 sizes and

types of concrete blocks, tile, and brick to 14, or approximately 85 per cent. Recommendation reaffirmed.

At a meeting of the standing committee, held in

February, 1927, it was unanimously decided to reaffirm

the existing recommendation, without change, for an- other year commencing June 1, 1927.

A year later, at a meeting of the standing committee held March 1, 1928, the recommendation was

again reaffirmed, without change, for another year.

Has simplification proven worth while?

Yes, say manufacturers, distributors,

and consumers of commodities for which

there have been established simplifiedpractice recommendations. To ascertain

this opinion of industry the division of

simplified practice conducts periodic sur- veys among the acceptors of the recommendations. The results of these surveys

have appeared in narrative form in the

Commercial Standards Monthly. Due

to numerous requests for copies of these

surveys, the division has prepared a mimeographed supply which is available, upon

request, without cost.
300

A survey of production covering the year 1927 was

conducted under the auspices of the Portland Cement

Association; 4,198 manufacturers of concrete block,

tile, and brick, representing 90 per cent of the total production, and 85 per cent of the firms engaged in

such production, contributed data which indicated

that the average degree of adherence to the recom- mendation was 90 per cent. Benefits derived.

Some time ago, a letter was sent to all accepters of

this simplification program requesting that they evaluate the benefits and savings which were being derived

from the application of this recommendation. Although few were able to estimate actual monetai’y

savings, the following excerpts taken from replies to

this survey indicate that much benefit is being derived

from this waste elimination effort

Savings to a New Jersey manufacturer during one year were estimated to be $11,500. “ I believe this

amount to be about right,” says the writer, “ as there

has been figured in the cost of extra machinery, molds,

and other equipment that were necessary ; for example, we once made a 4 and 8 inch block to put up a 12-inch

wall, whereas now we make a 12-inch block which

answers the same purpose and yet cuts down the manufacturing and handling on one unit.”

Another large eastern manufacturer writes, “ I believe it is one of the greatest of woi'ks done in recent years for the economy of construction. There is not

a shadow of a doubt but that there is a great saving

to the manufacturer, the retailer, and the ultimate

buyer.”

“ Not only is there a monetary saving, but it is my

opinion that service through this medium can be improved fully 25 per cent.” “ Simplified practice in our plant has reduced the

selling price of our product 25 per cent,” replies a

concrete block manufacturer of the Middle West.

“ We are still making a fair profit, selling more units

and have created a larger demand for our products.”

“ It enables us to keep our block plant in operation

during the entire year, affords steady employment to our workers, and helps greatly in getting a uniform

production, therefore, keeping our cost at a minimum,”

writes the secretary of an Ohio fuel and supply company. “ By having only the standard sizes in stock

it reduces selling expense and gives us a quick turnover.”

“ By following the suggestions in regard to concrete

blocks, reducing patterns, I have been able to reduce

my stock more than 60 per cent,” says a distributor, “ and have actually increased my sales to the standard

pattern and size 15 per cent. By doing this my block

business shows a satisfactory profit, whereas before

the excessive stock ate up all the profit.”

A general contractor writes, “ I am pleased to advise you that in the manufacture of concrete building

units, the standardization of sizes has greatly simplified the industry and makes their building units more

acceptable to the trade.”

“ Standardization of sizes has been a great boon to the concrete products industry,” says the general manager of a large association. “ Concrete machinery

manufacturers, in the design of new equipment, have

taken into account the sizes accepted by your division.

Many products manufacturers have purchased mold

boxes for old equipment that will enable them to produce standard size units.”

Summary.

A brief resume of the benefits accruing to the in- dustry due to the application of the simplified practice

program for concrete building units, as acknowledged

in the foregoing excerpts, indicates them to be improved service, reduced stock, lower selling price,

larger demand, stability of employment, uniform production, quicker turnover, and at the same time the

units, in many instances, have become more acceptable

to the trade.

Simplified Practice Recommendation No. 32, Concrete Building Units, may be obtained from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office,

| Washington, D. C., for 5 cents a copy.

WELDING RESEARCH BENEFICIAL

Satisfactory Welding for Building Construction; Offers Solution of Noise Problem

In order to help the construction industry obtain

safe and economical structures, the National Bureau

of Standards, in cooperation with the American

Bridge Co., has carried on investigations on welded

connections for use in steel-frame buildings. These

included tests on column splices formed by welding

plates to the inside faces of the column flanges. The

connection was made by bolting splice plates to these

welded plates. The tests showed that the connections were adequate in strength to carry the loads for which

they were designed.

Welding offers a number of advantages over other

methods of connecting the members of steel-frame

buildings. One of these is the elimination of most

of the noise which usually accompanies the erection of

steel buildings. Examples of buildings recently

erected by welding with this advantage in view are the additions to the Homestead Hotel, Hot Springs,

Va., and the Ohio Valley General Hospital, Wheeling,

W. Va. While the elimination of noise is especially

important in the construction of additions to buildings already occupied, freedom from noise in the con- gested business areas of the large cities is also highly

desirable.

The use of welding will also reduce the cost of construction of many buildings. In comparatively simple

buildings, the steel may be shipped from the rolling

mill direct to the site for erection by welding without

the need of the intermediate shop operations required

by other methods of erection.

Savings may be effected by designing floor beams as continuous beams with a resulting decrease in the

weight of steel required. Existing structures may

often be remodeled or strengthened more economically by welding than by other methods.
301

QUALITY STANDARDS SOUGHT TO GUIDE CONSUMERS

Users Advised by Government Expert to Insist on Accurate Information on Quality of Goods Bought

Ruth O’Brien, Bureau of Home Economics, Department of Agriculture

Each generation brings its own problems to the

home maker. I remember hearing my great-grandmother say that her greatest problem was keeping

her six sons from the evil ways of the world. Considering that most of the time the family lived 12

miles from the nearest neighbor, that the only means

of transportation was by foot or by horse, and that

the struggling pioneer life demanded work from dawn

to sunset, I can hardly see how there were many opportunities for evil contacts. But when my great-granddaughter asks me what the

greatest problem of the home maker was in my time,

I shall say “ purchasing.” While great-grandmother

also had to make purchases, the market to Avhich she

went contained relatively few different grades from

which she had to choose, and she took with her an

intimate knowledge of quality gained by having made

many of the products herself in her own home.

To-day the home maker is faced with hundreds of

different commodities with which she has had little intimate experience, and has arrayed against her the

pressure of a commercial world which is overproducing and whose experience depends upon persuading

her to buy and then buy again.

The situation is especially complicated in connection with textiles. It is made extremely difficult by

the large number of new fibers which have come

on the market, the many new fabric finishes, some

of which conceal lack of quality very effectively and

the fact that many of the qualities which she is called

upon to judge can not be determined by mere inspection at the counter. Ways of judging textiles.

For many years we have been learning ways of

judging textiles, and some of these methods do help

in some cases. But suppose we are honest with ourselves for a few moments and think over what really

happens when we approach a dry-goods counter to buy even as simple a thing as sheeting.

Usually the clerk shows us a number of different

qualities. We pull them between our hands, try to look intelligent, and ask him a few questions. No

matter how sincere he is, there is usually very little real information which he can give. The truth is that

the textile merchandising situation is becoming so complicated that the retail buyers are having the same

difficulties the consumers are. This is evidenced by

the demand being made on the part of some for

testing laboratories from which they may get help.

And, of course, the average clerk knows much less than the buyer. When we carefully analyze his an- swers to our questions, we are forced to the conclusion that they are simply opinions based chiefly on

the fact that few customers have returned the goods

in question or complained about them.

It is well not to put too great confidence in this

“ no complaint ” answer. A recent study showed that

less than 5 per cent of a certain very poor quality of

material was returned, although it was evident that

it could not possibly give the service that was guaranteed on its salvage. Most women are like you and

me. We hate to complain. We even forget when and

where we bought a certain fabric that faded or wore

out too soon. We keep no record of the manufacturer

of the articles we purchase.

Sometimes, in desperation, we think of a brand name

that our mother relied on greatly and buy that sheet. Buying by brand may be satisfactory in some commodities, out I submit that policies of organization

change and qualities may be radically changed as new

economic conditions arise. It is also an interesting

question whether or not a “ well-known ” brand may

be simply a well-advertised brand and how much

more economically we might buy if we only had a way

of finding out that some less well known, less expensive, and less highly advertised product was of the same quality. The truth is that if we are honest with

ourselves we will admit that most of our purchases,

under present conditions are sheer guesses. They are made on the basis of some gayly colored advertisement,

the opinion of some friend’s friend or a mere gamble.

Total purchases large.

But, some may be saying “ Is this really an important

matter? After all, I buy only a few dresses a year,

relatively speaking, and only a limited amount of any

one commodity.” But did you ever stop to think that

the total of all our purchases makes up the biggest

business in the Avorld and the policies of this business

are the most far-reaching? The happiness and the

prosperity of every family depends on its purchasing

habits. I would submit that no business can be successful if its purchasing is done by guess. Every

sound business with which I am familiar sets up specifications for the materials it buys. When they are

delivered, tests are made and if the goods do not come

up to the specifications, the}7 are returned.

It would hardly be fair to bring up these disagreeable truths, unless there are remedies for the situation.

There are some of us who have been considering this

matter carefully and have come to the conclusion that

the only solution is a set of quality specifications for

each staple product so that when the consumer is trying to choose between different items within a given

price range, she could compare these facts told her by

the specifications and select the one best suited to her

needs. Such an arrangement would not be as complicated as it sounds.

Facts are wanted.

Suppose we are choosing a blanket and a number

are offered us within the price range we can afford to
302

pay. Wouldn’t it help us decide the best one for our purpose if we knew such facts as the tensile strength,

the weight, the amount of wool and cotton? Better

yet, wouldn’t it help a great deal to know their rela- tive heat conductivity, since we are really buying the

blanket to keep us warm. The American Home Economics Association, in co- oiDeration with the American Standards Association,

is now discussing with groups of manufacturers the

feasibility of this plan, and some commodities are being labelled with a great deal more information

than they were formerly. I would suggest that, when

making purchases, a little thought be given ahead of

the shopping trip to the facts which are really needed

about the commodity that is to be purchased. Then

read the labels, ask for facts from the retailer, and

indicate that it is facts and not opinions that are wanted.

Grading standards useful.

This should not be limited to textile materials.

The pure foods and drugs act is giving a great deal

of protection to us in buying these commodities, but

if we are to benefit by it we must read the labels. The

attempts being made by certain Government agencies

to get quality specifications on meats, poultry, fruits,

vegetables, and canned goods are in many cases benefitting the producer and distributor greatly, but the consumer only indirectly. A familiarity with these

grading systems and the insistence upon their use in

retail selling will be of inestimable value to all consumers. This brings up another closely related matter. There

are to-day buried back behind the scenes in the manufacturing and distributing world, many quality standards which the consumer never hears about and which

would be very useful to her. There is also in connection with many commodities a more or less technical

language which describes the various qualities accurately and are essential to the setting up of any quality

specifications for those articles. I believe very thoroughly that one of the best helps

the consumer can give herself to-day is to ferret out

these terms, learn their meaning, and be able to talk

the language of every commodity. Speaking the same

language helps in international conference, it also

helps in “ buying conference.”

SIMPLIFICATION OF ARBOR HOLES FOR

SAWS AND GRINDING WHEELS

General Conference Approves Recommendation; Summary

Report Submitted to Industry for Signed Acceptance

A general conference held March 20, under the

auspices of the division of simplified practice of the

National Bureau of Standards, and attended by representatives of manufacturers, distributors, and users, unanimously approved a simplified practice recom- mendation covering the shapes and sizes of arbor holes

for portable electric circular saws and grinding

wheels.

It was decided that the approved shape of hole for

grinding wheels should be round, while for saws the

shapes are to be either round or round with flat sides. The size of arbor hole for these shapes is to be 114

inches in diameter (with 1 inch across flats where

flattened sides are used). The recommendation is to be effective as of January 1, 1931. In accordance with the usual procedure of the Bureau of Standards, mimeographed copies of the sum- mary report of the general conference will shortly be

sent to all interested in the industry, requesting their

signed acceptance. When sufficient signed accept- ances have been received, representing at least 80 per

cent of the industry by volume of production, the

recommendation will be indorsed and published.

MEN’S PAJAMAS

Commercial Standard Accepted by Industry for New Production; Defines Minimum Measurements for Pajama

Coats and Trousers Under date of January 30 it was announced that

the Recommended Commercial Standard for Men’s

Pajamas has become effective for new production,

since the standard is accepted by a satisfactory majority of production and by a large number of representative distributors and users. The commercial

standard sets up minimum measurements for pajama

coats and trousers in sizes A, B, C, and D. These

minimum measurements cover such key points as length of coat, chest measurements, arm hole, sleeve

length, sleeve around bottom, coat around bottom, as well as the following measurements for trousers

Waist, seat, thigh, rise front, rise back, outseam, in- seam, knee, and bottom. Methods for taking each

measurement are described and illustrated by sketches

in order that no misunderstanding may arise from

this source. Mimeographed copies of the commercial

standard are available on request.

PLAIN AND THREAD PLUG AND RING GAGE

BLANKS

Pamphlet on Recommended Commercial Standard Distributed

for Written Acceptance

Pursuant to a request from the American Gage

Design Committee, a pamphlet entitled “ Plain and

Thread Plug and Ring Gage Blanks,” Recommended

Commercial Standard, as adopted by that committee, was circulated under date of March 4 to producers,

distributors, and consumers for written acceptance, in

order to determine the extent of actual adoption and

in order that it may become more widely effective through establishment as a commercial standard and

through publication by the Department of Commerce

of the list of acceptors.

The recommended commercial standard includes

details of construction for plain cylindrical plug gage

blanks, thread plug gage blanks, plain ring gage

blanks, thread ring gage blanks, and the official mono- gram used to identify such gages. The recommendation applies to gage blanks only and does not attempt

to set up dimensions or tolerances for finished gages. Copies are available on request to producers or users who wish to examine the recommended standard with

a view toward acceptance.
303

ADVANTAGES OF STANDARDIZING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

Methods of Grading Are Suggested and Advisability of Rigid or Tolerant Application of Rules Discussed

by Farm Specialist

By W. C. Geaglet, Department of Agriculture, State of Michigan

The development of agriculture has admittedly been

a process of evolution leading to a more highly specialized production of farm products and thereby contributing one of the greatest economic factors that we

have to contend with to-day in dealing with the largest,

most universal business of the age—that of supplying

food to the inhabitants of this earth.

Competitive, specialized, intensified production in- evitably led to changed trade practices from the oldestablished order and improvement, changes, standardization, and the establishment of grades occurred

largely as the results of economic necessity. This fea- ture of the agricultural industry will grow and develop

to a point we can scarcely appreciate at this time,

and will eventually prove to be one of the greatest

stabilizing forces in agriculture just as it has been

in every successful industry.

The use of standards and

the application of grades

in an industry, to be successful, must be of mutual

benefit ; that is, the con- sumer or purchaser must

derive value, either in the

form of a lessened cost or

in a better article at the same price, and the producer or manufacturer obtain higher quality raw material that will . enable

him to produce a greater value at less cost. Unless

this spirit of cooperative endeavor prevails, grading of

commodities is like the “house built upon the sands.”

Purpose of Standards.

Broadly considered, the purpose in establishing

standards or grades is to facilitate all of the marketing processes. Farm products may pass through many

hands in moving from the centers of production to the wholesale markets. Many times products are contracted for to be delivered in the future and a large

part of the business is transacted at long range. It

is essential that there be a common designation to in- sure complete and mutual understanding between

buyer and seller. Grades provide this common designation so that it is unnecessary in commercial transactions

based on grades to require in minute details specifications as to each factor influencing market quality.

The advantage of standardization, in establishing a common language of terms, and actually separating

the product into different grades of market quality is obvious if we expect an intelligent comparison of market prices, business methods to prevail from producer

to consumer, and the elimination of waste, both eco- nomic and physical. Separation of the product into

grades permits more effective distribution and finding

the market which will give the grower the largest return.

As a grade factor, in the case of certain products

as with grain and beans, foreign material may be considered more objectionable than any other because of

its nature. However, in such cases it is easily removed

by present-day cleaning machinery and for this rea- son it is practicable to keep the percentage allowance

in the respective grades within narrow limits. The question naturally arises “ What tolerance or

variation, from the established conditions set forth

in the grades, should be permitted in the grading of

farm products ?” Minimum allowance urged.

Because standards are usually based on minimum

requirements, little, if any, tolerance should be al- lowed ; that is, a greater variation than is set forth in

the standards would auto- matically reduce the grade

to the next lower grade or

class. Flowever, it is conceivable that grades could

be established, based on an

ideal condition rather than on a practicable basis, and

in such cases sufficient lee- way should be allowed, or a tolerance established which

would permit of the accept- ance of products which differ, within reasonable limits, due to natural causes, from the ideal condition.

There should be, for the good of any industry, onty one source for the establishment of grades. If production or marketing conditions will permit of the es- tablishment of grades that will govern all localities,

then proper education, from the producer to the ulti- mate consumer, as to the requirements for the grades

will have a tendenc}^ to stabilize and promote a uniform scheme for handling such commodity.

Clarity of nomenclature.

Grades for many farm products can be established

and the language used be so clear and definite that they

need not fluctuate from year to year nor need to be

changed except as evolution in the industry takes

place. Nothing upsets or brings about a chaotic condition in an industry more than the continual changing

of classes and designations for supposedly standardized grades.

All pax-ties concerned in the matter of the establishing of grades for any agricultural product should be

taken into consideration, and grades established that

would serve and facilitate both the warehousing and

the handling of the product as well as assist the in- dustry that consumes the great bulk of the product.

Optional grades are of little asisstance to the regulatory official in aiding an industry. They are destandardization of agricultural products

is one of the most important economic developments in recent agriculture. Marketing possibilities are facilitated and all parties will eventually benefit. Specification of grades must be careful and definite

they are optional or compulsory according

to conditions in the industries involved.
304

pendent upon the good will and business ethics of

those engaged in handling such products, and an appeal for compulsory compliance is therefore of no

avail. In the history of food regulation and control, it is common knowledge that the question of quality did

not enter into the enactment of many of our foodcontrol measures. The identity of the articles and

its correct designation seemed to be the most important consideration. As the food industry has developed and grown to outstanding proportions, we

find that more attention is given to-day than ever

before to the question of grades or quality in raw

materials as well as in the finished products, and

where standardization has taken place effectively with

any commodity, the development of that particular

product is one of progress both in quality and value.

A grading bill has been proposed in Congress for

fixing a minimum quality for commercially packed

food with the thought in mind that substandard, or lower quality of the same type of food would be

designated, which would not only offer to the con- sumer the advantage of selecting a type of food appropriate, but would have a tendency to standardize

and stabilize production of raw materials and finished

products.

FELDSPAR

Committee Has Recommended a Commercial Standard Classification; Proposal Now Before Industry for Acceptance

The standardization committee representing a majority of the industries interested in feldspar met in

Toronto, Canada, on February 18, and, with the

authority conferred by the January 14 conference,

recommended a commercial standard classification

which is being sent to all interests of the industry

for formal acceptance.

It was voted to make the effective date for new

production on the commercial standard classification

three months after the announcement of the success of the project, and the revision interval was set at one

year. The standardization committee, which is representative of the entire industry, was continued as the

standing committee of the industry to receive comments and consider the desirability of revisions.

COMMERCIAL GRADE STANDARD FOR

PLYWOOD

Manufacturers Propose Uniform Grade of Commodity; Assistance of Bureau of Standards Requested in Promulgation

of Proposed Standard

Plywood is laminated or built-up wood used for

table tops, and other furniture, interior paneling, and

a wide variety of uses. It is made in many species

of woods, using faces of the most common ones for

strictly utilitarian purposes and the most expensive,

carefully matched veneers for high-grade furniture.

Because of the diversity of uses and kinds, many

different methods of grading have evolved that work

a hardship on both the buyer and seller because the

buyer has no real conception of the manufacturer’s

grades except through direct experience.

To obviate the confusion and misunderstanding that

has attended the industry, the manufacturers of plywood, as represented in the Plywood Manufacturers’

Association, have set about to establish uniform grading and have voted to request the cooperation of the

division of trade standards, Bureau of Standards, in

securing their general adoption and use. The commercial standard grading rules will refer

both to the construction of the panel and the natural

defects appearing in the faces of the piece which cause

it to fall into one of the several grades that will be

established.

Uniform classifications will provide a definite working basis for the manufacturer of plywood panels and

tops and will also give the furniture designer something definite on which to estimate his costs. It is further anticipated that interest will be aroused in the

production and use of higher quality plywood.

BRITISH SPECIFICATION FOR OIL SWITCHES

Revised Engineering Specification Deals with Oil Switches

and Circuit-Breakers

The British Engineering Standards Association

have recently issued a revised specification, designated

116-1929, which deals with oil immersed isolating

switches and circuit-breakers. In the preparation of

this revision, due regard has been had to similar work

done in other countries, with a view to cooperation in

international standardization.

The specification is intended to cover indoor circuit- breakers up to 33,000 volts and outdoor types up to 220,000 volts. Useful appendixes are included, giving

notes on the care and maintenance of circuit-breakers,

and also on the measurement of voltage and sphere

gaps. • KEEPING SIMPLIFICATIONS UP TO DATE

Periodic Surveys Insure Conformity with Current Demands

of the Industry

To keep abreast of current practice and changes in

demand, simplified-practice recommendations are constantly undergoing review and revision by the standing committees of the affected industries.

The division of simplified practice cooperates with

these standing committees in making periodic audits

of active programs to determine the degree or extent of their actual adoption and use. Surveys likewise

provide the basis for constructive revision of an es- tablished simplified line. It is estimated that approximately 35 to 40 surveys in as many industrial fields will be in process during the present calendar year. The data collected through this cooperative service

of the division is analyzed and summarized, and re- sults placed at the disposal of each standing committee for such action as will insure an up-to-date and

effective recommendation.

Experience has proven that the success of any

standard is measured by the degree of its actual application and use.
305

APPLYING SIMPLIFICATION TO A “BUSINESS AS A WHOLE”

Prewar Business “ Set-up ” Restricted S ales to Retail Merchants ; War Created a More Serious Study of

Distribution Problem; the Manufacturer, the Wholesaler, and the Retailer Each Only a Department

in the Business of Distribution; Must Cultivate the Support of the Consumer, Says Writer

By L. H. Bbonson

Limited as the volume of its business is by the geo- graphical layout of its territory, The Bronson &

Townsend Co., was forced to find some other incentive

than mere size, as a stimulus to its better and greater

growth. This substitute expressed itself in the development of our business as an experimental laboratory of distribution. By that I mean that we have

applied the laboratory method to every operating detail of the business, including buying, selling, and

warehousing. Because the geographical situation limited the size of the territory which could be economically served from New Haven we naturally concentrated on something else those energies which would

normally have been devoted to expansion of territory.

Perhaps, it would be incorrect to say that we started out with a clear thought in

mind of developing our

business in just the way we

have, but as I look back

upon the work of these last 10 years it seems almost as though no other result could

have been the outcome.

In order to make the

story of the development

of this experimental laboratory intelligible to the

reader, I must sketch as a background the “ set-up ” of our business as it was

some years ago. Prewar conditions.

In the days before the war our business differed only

in detail from that of other similar enterprises engaged

in the wholesaling of hardware. Perhaps we gave a

little better mechanical service than did some. We

made it our practice to ship every order the day it was received, to mail out the invoice on the day following, to send out statements on the first day of each

month, and to answer every letter the day it reached

us. In addition to doing these things, we prided ourselves on our freedom from mistakes and on the completeness of our shipments. Rarely did we have more

than five or six shipping mistakes reported during a month, and back orders of regular stock goods for a period of over 20 years amounted to less than 1 per

cent of the items ordered.

All of this, however, was largely a mechanical service, fairly perfect, but impersonal. So impersonal that we had little, if any, real interest in the success of our

customer, the retail merchant, nor in the welfare of

the manufacture. As for the consumer—he never

entered our minds. True, we long before had determined that it was poor business to sell the retail merchant and then turn about and sell his natural

customer, the consumer. We, therefore, restricted our

sales to retail merchants. For similar reasons we had

some years before decided we could not justify a variable pricing system and so we had adopted a oneprice selling plan. Aside from a few other things

similar to these we differed little from other wholesalers. Distributional methods studied.

Perhaps it was the war which caused us to begin

a serious study of the whole problem of distribution.

If I were to be entirely frank with you I probably

would have to acknowledge that self-interest was the

original native power, and it still is, but directed now,

I hope, more intelligently.

More intelligently because

it now recognizes that self- interest best serves us when

we honestly and sincerely

best serve others.

To get back now to the

closing months of the World

War. The leaders of our

business asked each other

this question : “ What will

be the big change in merchandising and distributing

methods as a result of the

war?” None of us was

successful in answering this question, but we all came

to accept one conclusion, Avhich was that the consumer would have more to say about business methods than

he had ever had before.

Just about this time we got a conception of dis- tribution which has helped to guide us along many

of the uncharted ways we have been following these

last few years. We came to see that no real profit was made by any one of the three factors who make

up distribution, until the consumer had bought a

piece of merchandise and had used it to his own satis- faction. We came to see that the manufacturer made

no real profit in selling us, nor we in selling the retail merchant. All real profit came from the sale to the consumer. In other words, the manufacturer, the

wholesaler, and the retailer were really each one only

a department in the big business of distribution.

Therefore, that which was of advantage to one would eventually be of advantage to all, and conversely that which was detrimental to one would be

detrimental to all. Furthermore, it was the consumer who must be

cultivated. Right at that time, and during the first year or two following the war it seemed as though,

perhaps, the consumer could be ignored without dis- tributive business suffering materially. There was a shortage of merchandise and all of us could sell almost

This article by L. H. Bronson, of Bronson & Townsend Co., New Haven, Conn., was submitted to the Shaw simplification

contest. The article, which describes the

effect of simplification when applied by

an individual manufacturing concern, is published in the Commercial Standards

Monthly through the courtesy of the

author.
306

anything we could get hold of. But we, in our business, felt very sure that it would be shortsighted to take advantage of that situation. Eventually the con- sumer would show his power, and when he did, established business would need every bit of good will it was possible to have stored up. New methods tried out. We felt very sure new methods of distribution would

be tried out, and there was danger that the particular method we were following in the hardware field (from manufacturer to wholesaler to retailer) might

be found inefficient in some particulars. The consumer would surely in the final analysis buy from that source which could furnish him merchandise of a satisfactory

quality at the lowest price, allowance being made for

necessary service. Although we were confident that

the manufacturer-wholesaler-retailer plan of distribution was able to take care of the consumer’s hardware

requirements more economically than any other

method could, we recognized that wastes and loose

methods had crept into our distributive machinery.

As is always the case, the consumer was paying for

this waste. Temporarily he might overlook it or, perhaps, not realize what such things were costing him,

but there would come a time when we would have to meet the severest competition and the only way we

could hope to survive would be to meet this competition as far as the consumer was concerned, price for

price, and quality for quality. It might be possible

that the consumer would be willing to pay a little something extra because of the superior services our method gave him, but we knew that we must be sure not to charge more for any service than it was worth, nor to make use of any service which cost the consumer more than he would be willing to pay if he were to know its direct cost. In other words, we felt sure that the manufacturer-wholesaler-retailer method of

distribution would have to demonstrate to the con- sumer that it was as economical as other methods

which might be devoloped if it were to have his, (the

consumer’s) continued and loyal support. And without his real support any method of distribution even though it might not cease to exist, would become nonprofitable1 and unattractive.

Eliminates wasteful efforts. Naturally the first thing we started in to do was to eliminate from the operating end of our business

everything wasteful and inefficient. I will not go

into the details of the changes made, but we did suc- ceed in making our business machine operate at a much less cost and with greater efficiency. In fact we

pretty well convinced ourselves that a similar reduction in costs on the part of the other two departments

(the manufacturer and the retailer) in the big busi- ness of distribution added together would lower the

prices charged the consumer enough to get the con- sumer’s complete support. But the business of dis- tribution is not under one management, and although our costs were being brought under control the costs of the other factors were, according to general reports,

increasing.

At just about this time Mr. Hoover was bringing

forward his plan of simplification and elimination as applied to manufactured goods. We followed with

great interest that story of progress. We saw how

this elimination of the unnecessary in a manufactured

line made possible a lower price to the consumer. One day this thought came to us. “ Why not apply

Mr. Hoover’s idea of simplification and elimination to a ‘ business as a whole ’.” If it worked with a manufactured line it ought to work with a business, and

perhaps here was the way to lower costs in distributive business and through lower costs interpreted in

lower prices win and hold the support of the con- sumer. Developed business as experimental laboratory.

We realized that the adoption of the plan would

probably lead us into uncharted seas and that there was danger in the experiment. On the other hand,,

if we were to be successful others would copy or make

similar experiments. And that was the important

thing. For although temporarily we might through

our own efforts be successful through a period of years we could be successful only as the general methods of

distribution we were following met the consumers’

needs and received his support. It was at this time

we decided to develop our business as an experimental

laboratory.

There were three problems we picked out as our first study.

1. What retail merchants should we try to serve ? 2. What territory should we try to cover ? 3. What variety and lines of merchandise should we

carry in stock?

We determined right at the beginning to follow that course in each case, where sound economics and sound

morals seemed to point the way, having courage to believe that satisfactory profits would always result. Retail merchants served; important problem.

Of course, as in any laboratory we collected all possible related facts before determining what to do. Some of the facts were easy to get, others re- quired much time and study. We began by a careful

study of our customer list. As I have already said,,

for years we had confined our sales to retail merchants who bought from us to sell again. Up to the

time of the war such a rule was all that was necessary. But as a result of the war there developed a tendency on the part of most merchants to try to expand their businesses by adding new and competing

lines. The outcome was a very large increase in the

number of those merchants—drug, grocery, and other

types—who carried in stock some items of hardware.

The result was that retail sales of hardware were

spread out so thin that profits were reduced below a safe margin. It seemed to us important that established retail merchants should be allowed to make a. I'easonable net profit if they were to serve the con- sumer satisfactorily. Furthermore, we were fairly sure that the increase of retail outlets who bought

only limited lines from us was increasing our own

overhead. We, therefore, determined to find out what it cost us to keep an account on our ledger.

It would take too long to explain the details of that

laboratory investigation, and so I will set down here

only the conclusion arrived at. It was this: Any ordinary order for less than $15^

worth of merchandise was unprofitable. An order

running from $15 to $25 in value was profitable or

unjDrofitable depending largely on the amount of sell-
307

ing time used, and the class of the merchandise sold. An account which averaged under $50 per month and

made up of orders which averaged less than $15 per

order was unprofitable. Using these figures as our measuring rod, we went through our sales ledger and

found that of the 1,464 accounts listed 734 were unprofitable. A further analysis of these 734 unprofitable accounts brought out this fact : More than 90 per

cent of them were of merchants who carried no general

line of hardware, but who had put into stock certain

items of hardware in order to expand their sales. In

other words, these accounts were not only unprofitable

to us but, in addition, our selling them was detrimental

to the interests of our natural customer, the established

retail hardware merchant.

Territory covered next considered.

The next problem we approached was that of the

territory we should try to cover. Located as we are on Long Island Sound we could operate only in the

half circle north of the sound. Furthermore, the

Hudson River, less than 100 miles west, was a traffic barrier which it was almost impossible to get by, and

on the east as we approached Boston the railroad layout, radiating as it does from that city, caused such

transportation delays that we were practically ex- cluded from that territory. We were left with a terri- tory roughly 150 miles wide running north from Long

Island Sound, bordered on the west by a line just east of the Hudson River, and on the east by a line running

north through Worcester. It has always seemed to us that it was a compact territory and one fairly

economical to travel. But when we began to study

intensively the cost of covering it we found many

surprises. We found the cost of selling varied from

just over 3 to as high as nearly 15 per cent. Knowing

as we did that any territory which had to have a sell- ing cost of over 8 per cent charged against it was

unprofitable, it is obvious that we took immediate

steps to eliminate that part of our selling territory

which cost us materially over this amount to cover Lines of merchandise carried in stock also studied.

The third and final step which we took at this time

in our plan of simplification and elimination as applied to a “ business as a whole ” had to do with the

lines and variety of merchandise we should carry in

stock. We recognized cur responsibility to carry in

stock such an assortment of hardware as would take

care of the reasonable requirements of the retail merchants we were trying to serve. This, of course, obligated us to carry some hardware lines which were

nonprofitable in order to give needed service. We,

however, did not feel that we were under obligation

to carry more than one line of the same kind and

grade. By this I mean that after deciding upon one standard line of saws, axes, hammers, etc., we did not

feel called upon to carry a similar grade made by some other manufacturer. We naturally tried to

choose those lines which were most favorably known

in our territory.

We endeavored to accept our full responsibility to- ward the manufacturer by cooperating with him in

the development of his own sales policies. We made

a point of selling the manufacturer’s name as well as

his merchandise and refused to sell under our own

label. In determining the variety of each line we

should carry we depended on a perpetual stock inventory which we had kept for years. This record showed

not only the quantity of each item sold but also the

number of sales. It seemed only reasonable to us to refuse to continue to carry in stock items which had

not sold at least three times during the previous year. This was the rule which we applied to strictly hard- ware items. Nonhardware items were continued to carry only when they could be sold at a profit. In

other words, we did not feel that there was any obligation on our part to carry nonhardware items unless

their sales resulted in a net profit to us. When we started in on our plan of elimination we

were carrying in stock just over 10,000 items. When

we got through the numbers had been reduced to just

under 7,000.

Necessarily it took some courage to put into effect some of the plans which our investigation seemed to prove were sound. We had, however, at the beginning

decided that we would follow along where sound

economics and sound morals appeared to lead, believing that adequate profits would result. The fact that our business was not too large and was under thorough

control made it possible for us to use it as an experimental laboratory much more safely than could have

been done in the case of a larger business. And yet I must confess there were many times when I almost

questioned the wisdom of our decisions. Necessarily

there is no point when it can be said that plans such

as we are following have been completed but we have

already gone far enough to know that they are successful, and presumably the further we go the more

successful they will prove to be. Perhaps just a few

figures here at the end will visualize better than any

further general statements just what we have suc- ceeded in doing.

Results of simplification.

Fifty per cent of our customers have been eliminated.

Twenty-eight per cent of our territory has been

eliminated.

Thirty-one per cent of our stock items have been

eliminated.

These changes naturally have resulted in some de- crease in gross sales, but the volume of net profits

increased 35 per cent in three years and the percentage of net to sales increased 68 per cent. We are still using the laboratory method in developing the idea of simplification and elimination as applied to a “ business as a whole.”

BUILDING CODE SURVEY IN PROGRESS

A survey of the status of building codes throughout

the country is being made by the division of building

and housing of the Bureau of Standards. The information sought includes the age of codes now in use, whether they are under revision, how revision is being

done and its estimated cost, the major features likely to be changed, and other items. Previous surveys

have developed interesting and valuable information

which has been utilized by the Department of Commerce Building Code Committee in determining its program of work.
308

TRENDS IN BUYING STIMULATE STANDARDIZATION

Forward-Looking Manufacturers Are Pooling Experience Concerning Their Commodities to Formulate

Commercial Standards

By I. J. Fairchild, Chief Division of Trade Standards

The past decade has witnessed a decided trend on

the part of professional purchasing agents toward the

use of specifications as a basis for buying, until at the

present time professional purchasers quite generally

are committeed to the policy of purchasing on specifications. As witness to this fact, the National Directory of Commodity Specifications lists more than

27,000 specifications, among which considerable over- lapping and conflict are evident. There is apparent,

also, a decided tendency on the part of the household

buyer to inquire more deeply into the relative merits

of competing commodities and to demand that purchased goods shall present, at least, a certain service

value.

As a part of an editorial in a recent issue of Nation’s

Business, Merle Thorpe says, “ Each generation has

its dreadful hippogriffs of change. * * * But

change is the immutable law. The innovations of one

age become the familiar practices of the next. Revision, remodeling, progress everywhere. The inexorable pressure of the new, the fresh, the original.

We may defy, we may protest, we may issue ultimatums, we may pass resolutions—even laws—we may

sulk in silence, yet the world does move and the

directing force of human activity is forwarded.”

Industries recognize this trend.

Many industries have recognized this trend toward

increasing diversity of specifications and toward a demand on the part of the consumer for assurance

of quality. Instead of sitting idly by, and meekly

accepting the situation, forward-looking groups are stepping out in front of the specification procession

by taking the initiative in the establishment of commercial standards, which entire industries recommend

as a basis for purchase and which are used as a foundation for marketing the commodity and restoring

public confidence in its service value.

These industries are pooling their intimate knowledge and experience concerning the goods which they

produce, and are recommending rational specifications which search out the most important criteria

of quality. It is evident that a specification, drafted

by manufacturing experts honestly endeavoring to give consumers the benefit of their knowledge, and

adjusted to meet the comments and suggestions of

distributors and consumers is almost sure to be of a character to command respect, warrant its general

adoption, and to gradually restore the general character of the industry to a higher level.

SPECIFICATION FOR OIL-BURNING APPARATUS AND FUEL OIL ON SHIPS APPROVED

General instructions covering “ care and operation

of oil-burning apparatus and handling of fuel oil on

ships,” have been approved by the executive board of

“ Good will.” “ Good will ” is recognized everywhere as a most important business asset. It requires a long time, ear- nest and steadfast effort to build, but is easily destroyed. It is bought and sold and yet is given freely

to those whose policies of honesty and fair dealing

are plainly evident. A constantly increasing number

of industries, recognizing the new competition in

which whole industries vie with one another for a share of the consumer’s dollar, are building foundations for greater “ good will ” for themselves as a group by the establishment of commercial standards.

The commercial standards procedure is one of the

most efficacious methods of setting up such a uniform

basis for fair dealing and assuring the consumer of

satisfactory quality.

The function of the National Bureau of Standards

in such work, after receiving the request, is fourfold

First, to act as a referee to secure adequate consideration of the needs of all interests ; second, to supply

such assistance and advice in the development of the

program as past experience with similar programs

may suggest ; third, to solicit and record the extent of

adoption and adherence to the standard; and fourth,

to add all possible prestige to the standard by publication and promulgation after it is adopted and

accepted by all elements directly concerned.

The service leading to the establishment of commercial standards is available upon request to any

industry which feels the need of improvement in competitive marketing conditions ; in means for obtaining

better understanding between buyer and seller in a reduction of the diversity of specification requirements ; or in the establishment of a uniform basis for

marketing as a means of increasing good will for the

entire industry.

No charge for service.

There are no fees connected with the service, the

only requirement being that an industry shall indicate

voluntarily its willingness to cooperate. No claim

is made that commercial standards are applicable to

all industries or to all commodities, but it is hoped that

this service will be given consideration in connection

with the present problems of many industries and

that those who feel the need will not hesitate to request

the cooperation of the National Bureau of Standards

in the establishment of commercial standards.

the American Marine Standards Committee. Numerous suggestions received by the board in connection

with the membership vote on the preliminary draft

have been referred to a special editing committee for

consideration and for incorporation in the printer’s

copy as far as the committee may deem practicable.
309

QUALITY OF LEATHER IMPROVED BY STUDIES OF TANNING METHODS

Effect of Various Materials as Fillers Is Determined and Length of Wear of Products Extended by New

Practices

By R. C. Bowkek, Chief Leather Section, Bureau of Standards

Leather possesses a peculiar resistance to standardization because of the fact that the basic raw materials,

hides and skins, are products of nature which are little subject to control. They are not uniform, are of complex composition, and a single hide or skin lacks the

homogeneity of substance and texture characteristic

of many other raw materials.

A lack of knowledge of the composition of hides,

tanning materials, and the reactions taking place beuseful properties, develop quality standards defining

basic requirements, investigate how it may best be

utilized, are the aims of the leather laboratory.

The scope of the activities and their relation to in- dustry are best illustrated by brief descriptions of some of the work done and in progress. The largest single item of production in the industry is sole leather. The wearing quality of shoe soles

is of interest to nearly everyone, and, consequently,

Experimental tannery

tween them, has resulted in the development of the

leather industry by empirical methods with practical

experience at a premium.

In recent years science had made very valuable contributions to the industry. These relate in particular

to the mechanical equipment for making leather, new

materials for use in its manufacture, and the development of methods by which processes may be more

accurately controlled. A distinct forward step has

also been taken by the industry in undertaking re- search to discover the fundamental principles underlying the tanning processes. To improve leather, make it last longer, cheapen

its cost by new methods and materials, determine its

investigations relative to this subject have always oc- cupied a part of the program under way at one time.

The first attack on this subject was the design of a laboratory apparatus to determine the resistance to abrasion of this material. In order to check the re- sults obtained with the apparatus, service tests were

also made, with particular reference to the comparative

durability of leather cut from different locations on

the hide. The results of this work showed a satisfactory agreement between the laboratory and service

tests. A large difference was shown in the comparative wear of leather from different hide locations and it was demonstrated that this was by far the most influ-
310

ential factor governing the durability of a single sole from any one type of tannage. This served to emphasize the careful selection of shoe soles on the basis of

hide location in order that the consumer might receive

maximum service.

An investigation of the effects of glucose and salts on the wearing quality of sole leather was conducted,

using four typical tannages. It was shown that these

materials, sometimes considered as adulterants for

weight-making purposes, had little effect on the durability under normal service conditions, but that those

leathers containing a high percentage had lowered

resistance to water penetration. The general effect of this work was the limitation of the commercial

use of these materials to the amount considered neces- sary to secure the desired properties in the leather. The application of the chrome method of tanning in

the manufacture of sole leather created a demand on

the part of industry for information concerning its durability as compared with vegetable-tanned leather. The results of a large number of service tests showed

that natural chrome-tanned leather wore about twice as long as the vegetable-tanned leather but was found to possess disadvantages, such as lack of watei'proofness

and firmness.

These results stimulated experimental production of

chrome-tanned leathers, filled with various greases

and retanned with vegetable materials, in order to secure a leather possessing the added wear resistance

afforded by the chrome method and having the desirable characteristics of vegetable-tanned leathers. Durability ratings on various of these combinations have

now been secured from tests in actual service. These

have helped the tanner to evaluate the product of any

given process and have resulted in an increased production of this type of leather. Other tests on the durability of sole leather have

shown that leather which is curried with grease similar

to belting leather wears longer than ordinary sole leather, but that an initial application of waterproofing materials to finished leather has little effect upon

its wearing quality.

The use of sulphite cellulose extract, a cheap material derived from the waste liquors from pulp mills, was prohibited during the war in the making of

leather for military purposes. Work undertaken by

the bureau to determine the effect upon the durability

of sole leather of filling it with this material showed

that such leather wore equally as well as leather filled with the ordinarily used tanning materials. This re- sulted in the elimination of the prohibitory clause

from the specifications and stimulated the use of this

cheap material in the tanning industry.

Further investigations were carried out relative to the use of this product in the actual tanning processes, and it was found to possess definite tanning properties.

Leather produced with it in admixture with other

tanning materials had a tensile strength and wearing

quality comparable with these properties in leathers

produced with the ordinary vegetable tanning materials, such as chestnut wood and quebracho wood

extract. Because of the low cost of the material, economy

results from its use by virtue of the fact that it may

be substituted for higher priced imported materials.

Its suitability for tanning purposes has a further

significance in that it will offset the diminishing supply of our other cheap source of tannins, chestnutwood extract, the source of which is rapidly being

eliminated through blight. Many tanners are ex- perimenting with this product along the lines suggested, and the results of the work have been widely

distributed in many countries throughout the world.

Synthetic tanning materials derived from coal-tar

products are new materials for use in making leather.

Considerable research was done to classify these materials according to their tanning properties and

action on hide substance which is of value to both the

maker of the products and the tanner. Studies of the physical and chemical properties

of many different leathers have produced information

which serve as the basis for the existing Federal specifications for leather. The most important of these

specifications are those covering leather belting, sole leather, lace leather, upholstery leather, packing

leather, rigging leather, and bag leather. By the use

of these standards the Government has effected

economy in purchase and is assured of uniformity

in quality. The industry has benefited through these

tangible expressions of quality and has cooperated

in keeping them up to date as new methods and

uses have developed which influence commercial

practice.

As the result of a research, the point was determined at which stuffing russet harness leathers with

oils and greases has the most favorable effect upon

the tensile strength of the leather. Mineral-type oil has the same effect as cod oil, and the short-time

tannage makes for greater strength, but the longertime tannage produces greater resistance to shear

when used with a buckle. The information on the

buckle strength of these leathers has a direct application in industry in those products such as harnesses

and linemen’s safety belts. Tests also showed that the ordinary storage of

leather did not effect its quality. Leather stored

under usual conditions of humidity, temperature,

ventilation, and light for 10 years deteriorated only

15 per cent in strength.

A bureau technologist studied the principles of

leather measuring devices and sources of error. He

found that such errors usually favored the buyer.

A suggested design was worked out and a procedure

for performance tests was devised. The test results on 3-wheel measuring machines were published with

typical calculations of essential factors. At the present time the personnel of the leather

laboratory is actively engaged in studying the effects of sulphuric acid on the life and properties of leather. Samples prepared with the important tanning materials are being treated with different percentages of

acid and stored for varying lengths of time up to two years. Deterioration as influenced by the amount

of the tanning material used, the percentage of acid

added, the grease content, relative humidity, and time

is measured by the change in tensile strength. The

work also includes fundamental studies regarding the

action of the acid on the constituents of leather. In

addition to establishing the limiting amounts of acid

which may be safely used in leather, the research has
311

interesting possibilities in indicating the tanning materials best suited for the production of durable

leathers.

Comprehensive studies are also being made on the

properties of all types of leathers as influenced by

tanning, finishing, source of skin, and service conditions. The object of this work is to make information on the value of leather for different purposes more

WHAT TIME IS IT?

Answer to Question “ What time is it at Any Point on the Earth?” Available Through Bureau of Standards

Calculator The growing frequency of international radio

broadcasting has increased the demand for a simple

device by which the time at any point on the earth’s

surface can be determined in relation to the time at some other place, such as Washington. This need is met by a useful little calculator known as a time con- version chart brought out by the National Bureau of

Standards nearly a year and a half ago. This device employs two divided circles made of

dieavy cardboard, the smaller being mounted above the

larger, and free to turn. This smaller circle is di- vided into 24 hours, while the larger indicates longitude

east and west of Greenwich with the names of the

various countries at their appropriate positions. By

setting the inner circle so that any given hour of the

day comes opposite any given longitude the time at any other longitude can be read off directly. Thus by

setting 12 o’clock noon opposite longitude 75 west

(eastern United States) we find that the corresponding time at 0 longitude (Greenwich) is 5 p. m., while

the time at longitude 120 (the Pacific coast) is 9 a. m.

This useful device may be obtained from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing

Office, Washington, D. C., at 10 cents per copy. It is designated as Bureau of Standards Miscellaneous

Publication No. 84. NEW BRITISH PUBLICATION ON TIMBER

TESTING

Pamphlet Entitled “ Methods of Testing Small, Clear Speci- mens of Timber ” Compares Mechanical Properties of Timber

The British Engineering Standards Association has

just issued a publication entitled, “ Methods of Test- ing Small, Clear Specimens of Timber,” and designated No. 373-1929. The purpose of the pamphlet

is to compare the mechanical properties of one species

of timber with those of another.

The new specification covers the standard methods

for carrying out all the usual tests, including moisture

content, compression, static bending, impact hardness,

cleavage, shear, tension, specific gravity, and shrinkage. A table is given showing the tests recommended

to indicate the suitability of timber for specific uses. The association has worked in close touch with the

Forest Products Research Laboratory in the preparation of the specification.

Further expei’iments are being cariled out in the

laboratory to determine a standard method of drying

generally available, and thus to contribute to the in- creased use of the matei'ial. The response of the industry to the work accomplished and being done is shown by the active co- operation of the American Leather Chemists’ Association, the Tannei’s’ Council of America, the Calf

Tanners’ Association, and the American Leather

Belting Association, through standing comixiittees.

specimens of timber. This will be submitted to the

committee i-esponsible for the specification, when the

latter is revised, with a view to drawing up more comparable determinations for shrinkage and specific

gravity. The methods included in the present specification, however, have been generality adopted and

are producing useful results.

BRITISH SPECIFICATION FOR TAR

Revised Specification for Tars for Road Purposes

The British Engineering Standards Association has

issued a revised British standard specification for tars (Nos. 1 and 2) for road purposes. The specification

which is designated No. 76-1930, has the full support

of the Ministry of Transport.

It covers, as formerly, tar for the surface tarring of

roads and for making tar macadam. The methods of

testing and the specifications for the apparatus to be

used, both of which are contained in appendixes, have

been specially prepared by the standardization of tar products tests committee. They provide for the determination of every property of the tar covei'ed by

the specification, and are prescribed in much greater

detail than in specification No. 76, Part 1-1928, which

is now superseded.

STANDARDS ARE PROPOSED FOR MEDICINAL

TABLETS

Following requests by manufacturing associations,

suggested quantitative tolerances on medicinal tablets

and ampules, with methods of analysis, have been

placed in printed form, according to an announce- ment by the Department of Agriculture. The sixth

and seventh reports of the committee l’epresentixxg the

American Drug Manufacturers’ Association and the

American Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association contain these pi'oposed tolerances, for the information and consideration of the Department of

Agriculture and the drug trade.

The medicinal tablets involved are : Caffeine citrated,

bismuth subgallate, bismuth subnitrate, and mercuric

iodide. The ampules are of caffeine sodium benzoate,

camphor in oil, pituitary extract surgical, silver nitrate, sodium cacodylate, sodium iodide, and sodium

salicylate. Amendments to previous l'eports on calomel tablets and calomel and soda tablets are given in

the report. Copies of the report may be obtained

from the Food, Drug, and Insecticide Administration,

United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.
312

A PERSPECTIVE OF SIMPLIFICATION MOVEMENT

Division of Simplified Practice During Past Eight Years Has Passed Through Several Stages of

Development

Edwin W. Ely, Chief Division of Simplified Practice

There is an old saying, “ it is sometimes hard to see the forest for the trees.” This magazine, and its predecessor, the Monthly News Bulletin, has pre- sented to its readers a running account of projects

handled by the division of simplified practice. This

current record may be compared with that presented

by other publications which deal with news rather

than with history or prophecy. But details, even though interesting in themselves, may crowd in to such an extent that they obscure the general picture.

In order to get that general picture, we must summarize past activities along broad lines, not only to distinguish past trends but to look ahead.

Any institution evolves through a number of stages

of growth, but the transition from one stage to the

next often passes unnoticed at the time. The growth

of the division of simplified practice is no exception

to the rule. Organized in 1921, it was in a formative

stage for about two years, during which its methods

and procedure were being worked out. Fortunately,

it had little groping to do, for its general policy and

purpose were soundly based on the exhaustive report

of the Hoover Committee on Waste in Industry.

Relatively few simplified practice recommendations

were completed during this early period, but knowledge of the function and methods of the division

gradually spread.

Rapid growth in four years.

The period from 1924 to the spring of 1928 may be

described as the stage of rapid growth. The procedure of the division had become thoroughly organized,

and its output rapidly increased. This period shows

a record of steady pioneering in new fields, but the

projects handled were largely confined to manufacSTANDARDS NEEDED IN PUBLISHING FIELD

Uniform Page Widths Would Prove Beneficial to Publishers,

Newsprint Manufacturers, and Advertising Agencies Alike,

Says A. N. P. A. Official “ The printing business is singularly free from any

recognized standards on many items which should be

established for the benefit of the industry,” stated W.

E. Wines before the recent convention of the Pennsylvania Newspaper Publishers Association, at Williamsport. Wines, who is manager of the mechanical department of the American Newspaper Publishers

Association, spoke on Standardization of the Printing End of the Newspaper Business.

Following a brief discussion on the lack of standardization for thickness of electrotypes, Wines reviewed

the diversity in paper roll wrappers. “ Some of the

newspapers that have spent considerable time and

effort on the standardization of paper handling and

paper transportation,” he said, “ have reduced their

wrapper weight and have also reduced their transit waste.”

tured products. A third stage began in 1928, distinguished by an increased effort to maintain a high

degree of adherence to recommendations, and by an

extension of the simplification idea into the distribution field. Both of these lines are being intensively

followed to-day, and it is becoming evident that the

division is about to enter a fourth stage, which will

be a logical outgrowth of those preceding.

Only when we skip the intervening years and compare 1930 with 1922 can we realize how far the division has come, and how thoroughly the philosophy

of simplified practice has permeated the industrial

structure. After eight years of growth, the division

may well be said to have reached adolescence. It has

a sound background of knowledge and experience,

both of facts and methods. A perspective of its past

accomplishments provides a sound basis for prophecy,

and “coming events cast their shadows befoie.”

Simplification saves money.

Simplification of manufactured products, backed by

increasing consumer interest, will continue to save money for all. Simplification in distribution equipment has already gone far, and is opening ever wider

fields for waste elimination. Our greater transportation systems are studying numberless possibilities for

reducing variety of equipment, materials, and supplies.

Simplification of commodities tends to bring about

simplification of method and practice. The next

eight years bid fair to show even greater progress

than those just past. The division looks forward with

justifiable confidence that its work will increasingly

stimulate the characteristic American idea of true cooperation within industries and between industries.

Discussing page sizes, Wines pointed out that “ a uniform set of widths would be a boon to newsprint

manufacturers and to the publishers. If such standards were effected, newsprint manufacturers would not

need to make so many different lengths of rolls. Advertising agency men say that they have too many

different page widths to contend with. This makes

extra expense, and comes out of the advertisers’ appropriations, eventually leaving less for the publisher.

An influence toward standardization may come later

with the use of the Teletypesetter. When this comes

along it certainly will be highly desirable to have a standard column width.”

In a recent issue of Editor and Publisher, J. E.

Murphy, production manager of the Minneapolis

Tribune, made a review, along similar lines, of the

lack of standardization in the mechanical side of the

newspaper business. A summary of his views appeared in the February issue of the Commercial

Standards Monthly.
313

STANDARDS PERMIT MAXIMUM PRODUCTION

Simplifying Varieties of Designs Enables Full Employment of Production and Distribution; Thomas

Edison Says Those That Want “Special” Items Should Be Willing to “Pay the Price”

Thomas A. Edison in his article A Great National

Asset, which recently appeared in the Saturday Evening Post, stated

The more waste in the production of an article, the higher

must be its price to the public and the lower must be the

profits of the manufacturers, the distributors, and the work- men involved. Raising the price always lowrnrs the buying

power and, therefore, makes for general trade dullness.

If, on the other hand, we get out designs, not only in a single

factory but throughout all the units in the industry, down to the minimum that the public really wants, we can then, and

only then, use the full force of production and distribution. We can then make machinery count. And nobody knows what

this will mean in the way of cheapening goods.

We need to develop more standards. When I say “ develop standards ” I do not mean standardization. I take the word

“ standardization ” as something which has to do with a single

shop rather than with a whole industry. To envolve standards

in an industry means the accepting by the inc&stry of cer- tain standard sizes and types. For instance, all lamp sockets are now of the same size. Any lamp that you buy will fit any socket, but all the sockets are by no means alike. They

vary according to the manufacturer. It is simply that all are agreed on the diameter and the threading of the inner shell Meaning of simplify.

An industry would be standardized if all the articles made

by the units in the industry were exactly alike. To simplify means that the trade agrees on fundamentals. Then the indi- vidual factory may or may not standardize its own production,

but whatever it does, will be in accordance With those fundamentals. For instance, a nine-and-a-half stocking would always

have the same size, no matter what hosiery company knit it. We must, however, bear in mind that there are two kinds

of industry. One is not industry at all. There is a distinc- tion between a shovel and a Paul Poiret gown, and this dis- tinction extends throughout manufacturing and retailing.

There is no point in attempting to apply economic principles

to objects of art. This is not to say that the ordinary, every- day things we use should not be of artistic design. But any- one who wants an especially designed article, one of which

there is no duplicate, should be prepared to pay the price.

And generally the price is a minor consideration. But the ordinary necessities of life—the food we eat, the

clothes we wear, the ordinary run of house and office furniture and fittings—are on a very different basis. It is the production and consumption of these articles, not the luxuries or art

objects, that make the prosperity of the country and it is in the field of the necessities that the opportunities for simplification lie. For we are carrying a vast amount of useless baggage.

Use of machinery.

We have various kinds of automatic machinery, but unless a considerable production be had in a single type of article

it is hardly possible to use even semiautomatic machinery,

much less to use the full automatic. Such machinery will not pay unless it be run continuously on one kind of work, but if one cuts down one’s line and goes in for quantity production, then automatic machinery will pay. It will pay high wages,

high profits, and cause low prices.

PROPOSED SPECIFICATIONS FOR SHIP STEEL

Specifications Covering Steel for Plates, Shapes, Bars, and

Rivets for Ship Construction to be Formulated

A suggestion that marine standard specifications be

developed to cover steel for plates, shapes, bars, and

rivets for ship construction, to include the physical

and chemical requirements, the allowable tolerances

for thickness and weight, methods of test, location

and method of selecting test pieces, and instructions

to inspectors relative to failure of test pieces, has been

approved by the executive board of the American

Marine Standards Committee. The. subject is to be

initiated by calling a conference of the prime interests

concerned, under the auspices of the American Marine

Standards Committee, with the cooperation of the

American Society for Testing Materials.

CHARGING PLUGS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES

The British Engineering Standards Association has

announced the revision of the specification for charging plugs and sockets for electric battery vehicles.

This specification differs from the previous edition

mainly in the fact that the plugs and sockets are rated

for use on circuits up to 250 volts, whereas, in the

former edition, the plugs were intended for use on

circuits up to 120 volts only.

Considerable attention has been paid to the means

for securing interchangeability, and the gages have

been redesigned for this purpose. Tests are laid down

to secure the employment of satisfactory insulating

material, and reference also is made to the means of

gripping the cable.

NEW MARINE STANDARD SPECIFICATION

PROPOSED

The American Marine Standards Committee an- nounces that proposed standard specifications for door

bolts and catches and sash hardware for ships have

been submitted to the membership and others con- cerned for ballot vote. Proposed standards for mooring bitts, cleats, and

posts for docks have been submitted to the technical

committee on port facilities. A proposed revised

marine standard specification for unlined linen fire hose has been submitted to the technical committee on ship operation details and supplies. The purpose of the revision is to harmonize the marine standard specification with the present requirements of the

Underwriters’ Laboratories.

REVISED BRITISH SPECIFICATION FOR

COPPER WIRE

A revision of specification No. 128, Copper Wire for

Electrical Machinery, has just been issued by the

British Engineering Standards Association. It is in- tended to meet the needs of users of bare, annealed,

high-conductivity copper wire for winding electrical

machinery and apparatus. One of the principal differences between the new and the 1922 editions is that

the tolerances permitted on the resistivity of the copper and on the diameter of the wire are smaller in the new publication. Furthermore, the tables of sizes and resistances of wire have been entirely rearranged

and remodeled.
314

STYLES OF TYPES TO BE SELECTED BY PRINTING INDUSTRY

National Board Organized by Industry

A preliminary conference of representatives of

manufacturers and distributors of type faces and

members of the National Board on Printing Type

Faces was held at the United States Department of

Commerce, on Monday, March 3, 1930. This meeting was called by the division of simplified practice of the

National Bureau of Standards, at the request of the

National Board on Printing Type Faces, for the purpose of discussing the possibilities for the application

of the principles of simplification to type faces for

book, newspaper, magazine, and advertising purposes.

Objectives of the national board.

At the morning session of the conference members

of the National Board on Printing Type Faces were

asked to explain to the typefounders the aims and

objectives of the board. The chairman of the board,

E. M. Diamant, directed attention to the resolution

which was adopted at the National Convention of the

Advertising Typographers of America, held in Washington, D. C., September 17, 1929, that “ a national

board be organized whose function it shall be to pass

judgment on all new type faces offered from either

domestic or foreign sources, and to recommend such

faces as are, in their judgment, of value to the art of

typography and the science of advertising.”

The board requested the cooperation of the typefounders in working out a plan whereby the problems

that have arisen through the introduction of excessive and uneconomic diversity in type faces might

be corrected and a proper medium for a scientific,

sensible, and fair solution from a practical standpoint

might be established.

A short meeting of the representatives of type

manufacturers was held, but no definite action was

taken, due to the absence of representatives of other

important producers. Those present indicated their

willingness to cooperate as far as it was deemed

expedient.

Legibility determining factor.

The afternoon meeting was given over very largely

to a discussion of the proper procedure to arrive at a satisfactory solution of the problem. Henry D. Hubbard, assistant to the Director of the Bureau of

Standards, briefly discussed the subject of legibility as the determining factor in all printing, the point

being made that while distinctive or special type faces are intei’esting and valuable in attracting attention of

the readers, legibility is essential to hold the attention

and get the message over to the reader. W. E. Braithwaite, of the division of simplified practice, briefly

described the cooperative services and procedure of

the division. It was pointed out that the principal

help rendered by the division is in coordinating the

preliminary work in securing general adoption of a

simplification program, and in securing sustained adherence. It was emphasized that simplification programs must originate within the industry concerned.

It was also made clear that the Department of Commerce can not support any simplified practice recom- mendation which does not have the approval of the

majority of those concerned.

It was the consensus of opinion that another joint

meeting should be held in New York City in the near

future to crystallize opinions into action if possible.

The date of the proposed meeting will be announced

later.

GUARANTEE LABELS TO IDENTIFY SILK

QUALITY

A New Grade of Wash Silk to Be Manufactured Under

Approved Standards and Marketed with Quality Labels

Manufactured according to approved standard

specifications, and sold on self-identifying qualityguaranteeing labels, a nexv wash silk, called “ Lavelle,”

sponsored by the Spun Silk Research Committee of

the Silk Association of America, has been placed on

the market. The history of events preceding the

promulgation of this standardization program would

apply to practically every branch of the textile in- dustry, including cotton, rayon, wool, and silk, states

J. Ralph Corbett, executive director of the Spun Silk

Research Committee, in pointing out that it is the same debasement program—the deterioration of

quality resulting in loss of public confidence—which

prompted the committee to adopt minimum standards

for inexpensive wash silks. The editor of Dry Goods Economist, in discussing

the subject says, “ It is hoped that the precedent set by

the Spun Silk Reasearch Committee Avill be followed

by the rest of the silk industry as well as by the manufacturers and converters of rayon and cotton fabrics.

The establishment of minimum quality standards in

all branches of the industry is eminently desirable for

protection of both the trade and the public.

The name “ Lavelle ” has been chosen and registered

in the United States Patent Office as a trade-mark

identifying fabrics made in accordance with the comnittee’s minimum standards. An identification tag has

been prepared for distribution to silk weavers and

conveters producing cloths conforming to these standards. This tag will be affixed to silk piece goods sold across the counter and will be attached to garments

made by manufacturers using these fabrics.
315

BUILDING CODES AFFECT USE OF MATERIALS

Extent to Which Materials May Be Used in Construction Dependent on Local Requirements

By George N. Thompson, Bureau of Standards

A group of men is gathered around a table. Rolls

of blue prints and pages of figures are spread out. The business of passing upon tentative plans for a building is under consideration.

One director from out of town asks a question ; Why

can’t we build six stories higher and derive revenue from renting the upper stories? Someone responds

that the building code forbids it. A little later sev- eral alternative types of construction come up. The

architect explains that with one material such and

such conditions must be met, with another, different

conditions. Why ? Again the building code. Before the meeting is over it develops that the choice

of structural materials, of fireproofing, of stairway

widths, of elevator equipment, of story height, and of

a great many other details, has been influenced by

the provisions of the same document.

If one of these busy men paused to inquire about

the building code he would very likely meet with some

interesting facts. It would be emphasized to him

that the code exists to protect the public against the

acts of the ignorant, the incompetent, and the unscrupulous. Buildings have been known to fall down,

devastating fires have occurred, disease has gained a foothold in places where no formal control of construction has been in effect. Out of such experiences have come laws and ordinances designed to protect the

public. With the passage of time these have become more and more complicated as attempts have been

made to keep in step with changing conditions and

methods of construction.

Fifty-six codes reported.

The inquiring citizen might learn some curious and

even startling facts about the code of his own municipality. It might be one of the 56 that are reported

as not having had a general overhauling in the last 20 years. Thinking back over the changes in his own

business and what he had heard of engineering progress in that itme he would begin to wonder if the

restrictions that were being placed upon the use of

building materials were in accord with modern knowledge. If he went further and compared a given re- quirement with that in a near-by city he might find

that the way in which a material could be used in one

place was not at all the way in which it could be used

in another.

Instances such as the one cited above are bringing:

about a growing appreciation of the influence of

building codes upon commercial activities. It is true

that standardization and simplification in building

materials is doing much to solve the problems of

manufacture and distribution. But these materials

must be used if they are to be sold. To be used most

effectively any legal restrictions as to how they shall enter into construction should be reasonable and uniformly applied. This state of affairs can only be

brought through patience and understanding. In the

last analysis it must be effected in the legislative halls

of a thousand municipalities by public officials whose

sworn duty it is to protect the public.

The high-pressure salesman and the advocate of getting things done on the cut and try principle have

no place in the picture. Charred and mangled human

flesh may be the outcome of misguided enthusiasm for

getting immediate results. Yet the public is entitled

to justifiable economies in the use of materials

and common sense in the restriction of its building

activities. Bureau assists in work.

As its contribution toward more logical building

requirements the Department of Commerce offers the

basic research work done at the National Bureau of

Standards and the recommendations of the building

code committee. These now consist of five printed

reports, together with a sixth report containing

plumbing recommendations issued by its subcommittee on plumbing. The work is being prosecuted with

the eventual object of providing a complete framework of minimum requirements suitable for general

adoption.

CEDAR CLOSET LINING

Grade Standards for Product Should Benefit Householders

Aromatic red cedar has long been recognized as an

efficacious retardant to the ravages of clothes moths.

Unfortunately, however, some manufacturers of cedar

products have traded on the credulity of the public

and have taken advantage of their faith in the protection offered by cedar lumber against moth damage.

The more progressive manufacturers of cedar lining

for clothes closets, who have large investments in the

business and are looking to the future, are cognizant

of conditions and extremely anxious to give the householder a lining that is really a protection for stored

clothes, and, furthermore, to show how such closets should be constructed for maximum service.

According to present information, only the heartwood, or darker portion of the cedar, contains the oil that is of value as a protection against moth damage,

and in order to assure the buying public of good

serviceable material, the manufacturers, through their

trade group, known as the Aromatic Red Cedar Closet

Lining Association, are advocating the establishment

of grade standards for their product.

While the idea is in its infancy, it is safe to assume

that some identifying label of quality will be applied

when the material is of commercial standard grade.

Sucl i a label will be the contractors and homeowners’

guide to an effective cedar-lined clothes closet.
316

CURRENT ACTIVITIES OF THE AMERICAN STANDARDS ASSOCIATION

Summary of Projects Covering Safety Code for Use, Care, and Protection of Abrasive Wheels; Use of

Explosives in Coal Mines; Fuel Oil; Graphic Symbols Used for Electric Apparatus, Instruments, and

Circuits; Cut and Ground Thread Taps; Slotted Head Proportions; and Milling Cutters

A revision of the 1926 edition of the American

Standards Association code for the use, care, and

protection of abrasive wheels is now being prepared,

and it is expected that copies will be available for

review in the near future. The revision is in the

hands of the technical committee which prepared the

original code.

Among the most important of the revisions con- sidered by the committee is that permitting the use

of steel castings in hoods over wheels operating faster

than 7,000 peripheral feet per minute. The revisions are being based upon a large number of special tests made since the establishing of the original code. The

sponsors for the code are; Grinding Wheel Manufacturers Association of the United States and Canada

and the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commission.

Use of explosives.

On the unanimous recommendation of the mining

standardization correlating committee of the American Standards Association, the code of American

Recommended Practice for the Use of Explosives in

Bituminous Coal Mines, has been submitted to the

association for approval as American recommended

practice. The American Standards Association technical committee which prepared this code was organized in 1925 under the sponsorship of the Mine

Inspector’s Institute of America.

The code covers suitability of types of explosives

and appliances for use in bituminous coal mines;

handling and storing explosives on surface ; transportation, handling, and storage underground; and

methods and precautions for charging and firing, in- cluding inspection. Work on the code was originally

started following the organization of the mining

standardization correlating committee in 1924, at which

time a correlating committee laid out a broad program of standardization of the safety requirements

of mines in an effort to reduce the large number of

serious accidents resulting from the lack of sufficient safe guards.

Fuel oil. The standardization of fuel oils, authorized by the

American Standards Association at its meeting on June 27, 1929, was initiated at a conference of representatives of interested organizations on January 16,

in the New York headquarters of the Amei'ican

Petroleum Institute. At that time it was agreed that

the scope of this committee’s activity should be the

preparation of specifications for fuel oil, including

domestic, industrial, and Diesel fuels, and excluding

oils with a flash point below approximately 100° F.

Tag. closed cup, oil burned in wick burners, and oil for gas-making purposes.

Graphical symbols.

A report on graphical symbols used for electric apparatus, instruments, and circuits, has been issued

by the American Standards Association technical

committee on this subject, for the purpose of obtaining

criticism and suggestions prior to the submittal of the

standard for approval by the association. The subgroup which prepared the report is part of the

American Standards Association technical committee on scientific and engineering symbols and abbreviations, under the sponsorship of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, American

Institute of Electrica] Engineers, American Society

of Civil Engineers, American Society of Mechanical

Engineers, and the Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education.

The report, according to the introduction, comprises

graphical symbols used for one line and complete

diagrams of electric power apparatus, instruments,

and relays, and system-connection diagrams. The

symbols are limited to apparatus usually met with

in electrical power engineering, such as major elec- trical equipment in power houses, substations, and

transmission and distribution systems, and to systemwiring diagrams. They do not cover communication,

railway, or other allied branches of electrical engineering.

Basic symbols which seem to have widespread use and application, and only such symbols (with few ex- ceptions) are given. It is recognized that the symbols presented do not cover all types of equipment, but

it is believed that with relatively small additions to the basic symbols the variations in practice can be ac- commodated. This is especially true of the complete

diagram symbols for rotating apparatus and trans- formers where it seems impracticable to show all possible connections of parts. Symbols for industrial

power and switchboard-control apparatus have been

omitted, as wide divergence of opinion and practice

has been found to exist. Where, also, a wide diversity of opinion was apparent concerning symbols that

would probably not be in common use, such symbols

have not been included in the list. An attempt was made to include only symbols that are simple in design in order to facilitate rapid drafting.

In practice, notes in abbreviated form are often in- scribed adjacent to the symbol figure. These notes give further information concerning the characteristics of the apparatus. A suggested list of such supplemental descriptive data under the subheading

“ Optional Notes ” is given with certain symbols. In- cluded in the report are symbols for power apparatus,

symbols for instruments and relays, and general symbols for maps and connection diagrams.

Symbols for heat and thermodynamics.

A revised draft of the symbols for heat and thermodynamics has been submitted to the sponsors for approval prior to submittal to the American Standard

Association. Work on this code was started with the

organization of the subcommittee in April, 1926, and
317

the first tentative list of symbols was submitted a month later for consideration of the advisory committee on symbols of the International Electrotechnical

Commission. Several new drafts were later prepared

and circulated for criticism. In October, 1928. the

subcommittee issued a revised draft in which was in- corporated a list of symbols for heat transmission

which had been compiled jointly with the committee on heat transmission of the National Research Council.

Further revision resulted in unanimous approval by

the committee early in 1920. The report includes a statement of general principles dividing the use of

symbols for heat and thermodynamics into general

symbols ; symbols for force, weight, work, and power

symbols for properties; symbols for general thermodynamics ; symbols for the thermodynamic quantities

symbols for saturation, vaporization, etc.; and symbols for heat transmission.

Cut and ground thread taps.

A proposed American standard for cut and ground

thread taps has been recently recommended by the

National Machine Tool Builders Association, the Society of Automotive Engineers, and the American

Society of Mechanical Engineers for approval and

designation as an American standard.

This proposed standard covering machine screw

taps, hand taps, taper taps, nut taps, and pulley taps, was developed by the general committee on the standardization of small tools and machine tool. The particular features of this new standard are as follows

Adoption of larger major diameters to allow for

greater wear, increase in minimum pitch diameters on

cut thread taps over three-fourths inch diameter to compensate for lead error, adoption of a comprehensive standard for ground thread taps, and. standardization of a number of elements not heretofore

covered. Numerous drafts of the proposed standard

in preliminary form were distributed to industry for

criticism and comment, and the present proposal is a revision of the earlier drafts in accordance with the

suggestions received.

Slotted head proportions.

The development of an American standard for

dimensions for slotted head proportions was undertaken by subcommittee No. 3 of the technical committee on bolt, nut, and rivet proportions in June,

1923. After wide distribution of the preliminary

drafts, the proposed American standard was approved by the sponsors : American Society of Mechanical Engineers, National Machine Tool Builders Association, and the Society of Automotive Engineers, and

has now been submitted to the American Standard

Association for approval and designation as American

standard.

Milling cutters. The general committee on the standardization of

small tools and machine tool elements recently approved the proposed dimensions for milling cutters developed by technical committee No. 5. Sections of

this proposal cover the nomenclature, profile, and

formed milling cutters and keys and keyways and

. give diameter, thickness, and other important dimen-

. sions. The proposed standard has been approved by

the sponsors: American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Society of Automotive Engineers, and the

National Machine Tool Builders Association, and is now formally submitted to the American Standard

Association for approval and designation as an American standard.

PACKING METHODS AND MATERIALS

STANDARDIZED

Norwegian Industries Standardize Containers for Shipping;

State Railways Support Program

Packing methods and materials are being standardized throughout in the Norwegian agricultural,

fishing, and market-gardening industries, according to a news account appearing in the Bulletin of the

International Management Institute. The sawmills,

wooden-case manufacturers, fishing, agricultural, and

market-gardening industries, the import and export

trade, Norwegian State railways, shippers’ associations, coastal trade and steamer associations, hotel and

restaurant proprietors are represented on the different

standardization committees.

Standard cases for packing fish have been adopted,

while further standard containers are being worked

out for eggs, fruits, and berries, vegetables and flowers,

dairy products, honey, and preserved goods. Cheap

jute sacks for cabbage, carrots, and potatoes are being

designed, the rule for such standards being that the

value of the container should not be more than 10 per

cent of the value of the content. In order to encourage the use of standardized containers and more particularly in order that the proposed standards for fruit containers should be tested,

the Norwegian State railways have announced that

they are ready to carry fruit packed in standard containers at a lowT fixed charge for an)'- distance.

ARCHITECTS DEVELOP STANDARD

DOCUMENTS

Wider Use of Standard Forms Advocated by American Insti- tute of Architects

The committee on contracts of the American Insti- tute of Architects many years ago developed a series

of contract forms, office forms, and related documents,

which have done much to improve contract practice

in the building industry, announces Frank C. Baldwin, secretary of the institute, noting that the various

standard contract documents have stood the test of

15 years’ use. The documents are now issued in a fourth edition and have the indorsement of many

prominent national organizations.

The institute also announces a book for architects

entitled “A Review of the Standard Documents,” by

William Stanley Parker, past secretary of the insti- tute. The book has been approved by the institute’s committee on contracts, and also by its board of di- rectors.
318

NAILED WOODEN OIL-WELL DERRICKS

Tentative Standards Adopted by the American Petroleum

Institute A report, including recommended standards for

nailed wooden oil-well derricks, and a brief explanation of the method for computing their strength was

recently submitted by the subcommittee on lumber

specifications of the American Petroleum Institute.

This committee, appointed in December, 1927, was

instructed to prepare specifications for a standard

lumber derrick and recommendations for the use of

lumber for oil-industry purposes generally. Investigation developed the fact that no sound basis existed

for computing the safe load-bearing capacity of such

derricks, which led to a program of tests on full-sized

leg sections of customary types.

The results of part of these tests and tentative

standards for lumber derricks were incorporated in

a progress report submitted December, 1928. The

tests were subsequently completed and the results in- terpreted by the United States Forest Products Laboratory. The method provided for computing the safe

load capacity is based on the laboratory’s recommendations and represents the only substantial change in the report of December, 1928.

CZECHOSLOVAKIAN BUREAU FOR CENTRAL

RATIONALIZATION

Manufacturers of wooden flooring in Czechoslovakia have agreed to open a central rationalization

bureau, according to an account appearing in the

Bulletin of the International Management Institute.

Standard measurements are to be fixed for wooden

flooring, while the raw materials used are likewise to be standardized in regard to quality.

This will enable the manufacturers to receive better returns from capital invested in machinery and out

of their plant as a whole, and to reduce transport

and administrative costs. An executive committee

has been appointed, and measures taken to insure

that work should begin in the near future. All of

the leading manufacturers of wooden flooring in

Czechoslovakia have agreed to support the bureau.

STANDARD INSULATOR TESTS

A sectional committee on power-line insulators for

voltages exceeding 750, sponsored jointly by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association and the

American Institute of Electrical Engineers, and or- ganized in accordance with the procedure of the

American Standards Association, has just completed

the development of a proposed standard for insulator

tests and ratings, according to the Journal of the

American Institute of Electrical Engineers. This

standard, which is in the nature of a revision of

American Institute of Electrical Engineers Standard

No. 41, Insulator Test Specifications, has had the

unanimous approval of the sectional committee and is now before the joint sponsors for action.

SUGGESTED NATIONAL STANDARDIZATION

OF EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS

Plans for Coordinated Research on Selection and Placement

Procedure

A program for pooling the resources of Government, industries, and schools in such a way as to determine employment standards of the country at

large, and to direct thousands of prospective employees to positions in industry or Government, which

they are actually qualified to fill, was outlined by Dr.

L. J. O’Rourke, director of personnel research of the

United States Civil Service Commission, who, in

speaking before the American Educational Research

Association in Atlantic City, on February 22, 1930,

announced extensive plans for coordinating educational, industrial, and governmental research to improve selection and placement procedure.

The project involves the standardization of Federal

civil-service tests in schools and industries throughout

the country, the purpose being to provide a common

denominator for the evaluation of employment standards of firms or classes of firms, as well as of Government, according to Doctor O’Rourke. These tests, which are now being subjected to rigid statistical analysis, will be given to groups of typical employees

in the firms cooperating in the project. The results,

he stated, will show the standards of those firms, and

each employer will be able to determine the ability of

his personnel as compared with the ability of employees in similar organizations.

NEW SAWING SYSTEM PROFITABLY CONVERTS SMALL LOGS TO LUMBER

Millions of feet of top logs and small timber heretofore left on the ground in the woods may now be

profitably converted into lumber, as a result of the

successful introduction of the Scandinavian gang

sawing system into this country by the National Committee on Wood Utilization of the Department of

Commerce.

Supplementing a brief report on tests of this sawing

system in a Pacific coast mill, issued in October, the

committee recently released a printed bulletin which

explains in detail the experiments and findings re- sulting therefrom. It may be obtained from district

offices of the Department of Commerce, located in the

principal cities, or from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C.,

at a cost of 10 cents, per copy.

SIMPLIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS REAFFIRMED BY INDUSTRY

The Bureau of Standards, through its division of

simplified practice, has announced the successful completion of simplified practice recommendations for

industrial truck tires, hospital plumbing fixtures,

colors for school furniture, elastic shoe goring, and

restaurant guest checks.

Sufficient signed acceptances have been obtained

from the manufacturers, distributors, and users of

each of these products to insure the general adoption
319

•of the programs. These recommendations, which are now in effect, resulted from the cooperation of the

members of the various industries concerned to eli- minate those varieties and sizes which were not in

sufficient demand to warrant their retention as regular

stock items.

ACCELERATED WEATHERING TESTS FOR

SPAR VARNISH

•Gives Results of Experiments to Determine Durability of Varnishes

So much time is required to get results on the durability of varnishes from outdoor exposures that the

National Bureau of Standards has devised accelerated

weathering tests for use in the laboratory. These

accelerated tests use in varying proportions the

carbon-arc light, water, and refrigeration.

Fifty commercial spar varnishes, representing the

products of different manufacturers, and some experimental varnishes made in the laboratory, were exposed

to several accelerated weathering cycles and also out- doors, at two different seasons—winter and spring.

The Kauri reduction test described in Federal Specification No. 18b, which is considered a measure of the

elasticity of a varnish film, was made on all of the

varnishes. They were also tested as to conformity to

all the requirements of this specification for spar

varnish. The varnish was applied on metal panels

by two methods—whirling and brushing. Both sandblasted and nonsand-blasted panels were used.

The bureau has just published a report which cor- related the results of these tests, comparing the results of the accelerated weathering test and the Kauri reduction values with outdoor exposure. The relation is also shown between the results of tests as to con- formity with Federal Specification No. 18b and out- door exposures.

BAGGAGE SIMPLIFICATION

Survey Conducted to Ascertain Varieties Now Produced

Recognizing the commercial value of establishing

standard sizes for trunks, a simplified practice committee was appointed by the Trunk, Luggage &

Leather Goods Manufacturers (Inc.) to study the

p>roblem of excessive variety in sizes. The committee made a thorough investigation of the

sizes necessary to meet public needs, having in mind

the economies that will be effected to merchants in

continually carrying a complete stock at a minimum

investment, as well as the advantage that will accrue

to manufacturers in reduced number of models and

standardization of parts. The chairman of the committee on simplification has submitted to the division

of simplified practice a tentative recommendation for

simplification of sizes of wardrobe, dress, and steamer

trunks, hand trunks (tray style), and hand trunks

(wardrobe style). The division has forwarded a copy of the proposed recommendation to manufacturers of trunks for approval or comment.

A questionnaire form has also been sent with the

recommendation for use in reporting the various sizes of trunks which each manufacturer makes. The data

thus furnished will be consolidated to show the variety

in sizes now being produced throughout the industry.

The results of this variety survey will be used as the

basis for a subsequent general conference to be held

under the cooperative auspices of the division of

simplified practice.

ADHERENCE TO SIMPLIFIED PRACTICE

High Adherence for Recommendations Disclosed by Surveys

Made in Connection with Reaffirmation of Programs

The following simplified practice recommendations,

No. 12, hollow building tile; No. 2, bedsteads, springs,

and mattresses; No. 66, automobile brake lining; No.

67, roller bearings; No. 73, 1-piece porcelain insulators; and No. 76, ash handles, have been reaffirmed

without change by their respective standing committees for another year. The recommendation for bedsteads, springs, and mattresses was reaffirmed for a period of two years. Surveys of production to determine the degree of

adherence accorded these recommendations disclosed

that approximately 91 per cent of bedsteads, springs,

and mattresses; approximately 89 per cent of hollow

building tile and ash handles; 78 per cent of automobile brake lining; 58 per cent of roller bearings; and

91 per cent of 1-piece porcelain insulators, production

conformed to the simplified schedule.

DIMENSIONS OF HOLLOW MASONRY BUILDING UNITS

A. S. T. M. Committee on Clay Units Expands to Include Concrete Units

The American Society for Testing Materials committee on hollow masonry building units has expanded

the scope of its work to include the preparation of

standards for concrete masonry building units.

Heretofore the activities of this committee have been

confined to development of specifications and methods

of test and definitions of terms for hollow burned-clay

tile. The personnel of the committee has been appropriately expanded to include producers and users of

hollow concrete units. A new subcommittee on concrete masonry units has been formed.

A new subcommittee on dimensions of hollow

masonry building units has been organized. The function of this subcommittee is to bring about correlation

between the sizes of masonry units and of masonry

openings, so that all will fit together with proper bond

and little or no cutting. The present standards for

such products as bricks, hollow tile, concrete blocks,

door frames, and window frames have been established

separately and usually without consideration as to how the various products might be combined in the

structure. The development of standards in masonry openings

is believed to be most desirable, but it has been pointed

out that the producers of masonry building units

should first adopt standards for their products. The new subcommittee will cooperate with other committees of the American Society for Testing Materials in a comprehensive study of the relation between sizes of

building units and masonry openings.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES REPORT

RELEASED

320

SPECIFICATIONS FOR PLASTERING

Bureau of Standards Issues Report on Twenty-second National Conference on Weights and Measures Miscellaneous Publication No. 101, of the National

Bureau of Standards, which has just been released, is a full report of the proceedings of the Twenty-second

National Conference on Weights and Measures, held

in Washington, June 4 to 7, 1929. The conference is held annually, being attended by State and local weights and measures officials, manufacturers of

weighing and measuring devices, representatives of

industry, and others interested. There was an at- tendance of 220 at the meeting reported, including

weights and measures officials from 25 States and the

District of Columbia.

The conference adopted a number of amendments

to codes of specifications and tolerances for commercial weighing and measuring devices which had been

previously acted upon. Final action was taken in

adopting specifications and tolerances on grease- measuring devices, the code on this subject having

been tentatively adopted last year. Copies of the complete report, which is illustrated,

may be obtained from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington,

D. C., at 30 cents each.

CEMENT SPECIFICATIONS

A. S. T. M. Announces New Tentative Specifications for High-’Early-Strength Portland Cement

New tentative specifications for high-early-strength

Portland cement have recently been issued by the

American Society for Testing Materials on the rec- ommendation of its committee on cement. The specifications were promulgated under the new procedure

of the American Society for Testing Materials fox- receiving tentative specifications in the interval between annual lxxeetings, through its committee on

standards. The specifications were issued as tentative on February 18, 1930.

The report of the committee transmitting the specifications also embodied a number of proposed changes

in the pi-esent standard specifications for Portland

cement. The changes are: Minimum tensile strength

at 7 days from 225 pounds per square inch to 275

pounds per square inch and the minimum tensile

sti-ength at 28 days from 325 pounds per square

inch to 350 pounds per square inch. The committee

believes these increased requirements are justified by

the generally higher strength of American Portland

cements. With the inauguration of the work of the Cement

Reference Laboratory, a lack of information concern- ing the tolerances on weights and dimensions of apparatus used in testing cement became apparent. To

assist the reference laboratox-y in its inspection work,

the committee has prepared a set of tolerances con- cerning new and used cement testing apparatus to be

inserted in the standard specifications. These toler- ances are also given in the report of the committee,

and it is expected that they will be recommended at the annual meeting of the society in June for adoption.

Joint Committee Appointed to Write Specifications for Plastering

To write specifications for plastering, a sectional

committee of the American Standards Association has

been organized. The sponsors of this movement are

the American Institute of Architects and the American Society for Testing Matex-iais. It is intended that this committee shall develop

specifications for lime, gypsum, and cement plastering. Membership will include representatives of the

producers of plastering matex-ials, the producers of

materials to which plasters are applied, and representatives of consumer interests and those responsible

for the execution of the work. Foxxr subcommittees

have been appointed—on lime plastering, on gypsxun

plastering, oxx cement plastex-ing, and on metal lath. There is, in addition, to be a coordinating committee

which will receive the I'eports of the other committees

and incorporate these into complete specifications for

plastering. The coordinating committee will inclxxde in its personnel members of the subcommittees as well

as architects, specification writers, contractors, and

representatives of labor xxnions. The sxxbcommittees have beexx instructed to have

complete specifications available not later than Jxily

1, 1930. They have also been instructed to keep in in- timate touch with the industry throughout the country, so that the specifications when developed will

have nation-wide application.

MANAGEMENT CONGRESS

Discusses Standards for Materials Handling

“ Organizing for permanent prosperity,” was the

keynote of the Maixagement Congress and Materials

Handling meetiixg held in Chicago, the week of March

3, 1930. All technical sessions were well attended,

with most of them marked by active discxxssion. Among maxxy papers presented to the congress dealing with waste, the one by C. B. Auel on An Effective

Method of Redxxcing Waste received marked attention. “ The producer of waste,” he said, “ is usually

his owxx best customer, and only after investigation

lias proven he can not make use of it in some way

should effort then be made to dispose of it to outside

pax-ties. Further, the fact that markets for so many

kinds of waste have already been foxxnd is proof that

the material wastes of one concex-n are or can usually

be made the raw matex-ials of another. This being so,

it is a matter of endeavoring to find two concex-ns and bring them together, one producing the waste as a by-product, and the other capable of xising it to the

best advantage, when solxxtions for many perplexing

pi-oblems of waste disposition are at hand.”

During the meeting on materials handling the question of “standardization in the materials handling

field ” was discussed. The subject will be continued

at the annual meeting of the American Society of

Mechanical Engineers in December, 1930, and at that

time a report will be presented on an analysis of the

need of standardization in this field.
321

UNIFORMITY IN TRAFFIC CONTROL

Standardized Regulation Advocated in Report to National Conference on Street and Highway Safety

Increasing density in automobile travel in the

United States is making uniformity and standardization of traffic laws and ordinances a greater necessity than at any time in the past, it was announced by

the Committee on Uniform Traffic Regulations of the

National Conference on Street and Highway Safety

which met, March 14, at the United States Chamber

of Commerce to consider questions of uniform regulation. The national conference is an advisory body created

by President Hoover in 1924, while Secretary of Commerce, and is now under the chairmanship of Secretary

of Commerce, Robert P. Lamont.

Submit recommendations to conference.

Recommendations of the committee, based upon a thorough and careful consideration of the subject of

State and municipal statutory regulations, it was an- nounced, will be submitted to the third national con- ference on street and highway safety which has been

called by Secretary Lamont to meet in Washington at the end of May.

The committee emphatically declared for the utmost

practical uniformity in both State laws and the traffic regulations of towns and cities. It was pointed out

that the approaching tourist season will increase

measurably the number of out-of-State cars in all communities.

The problem of congestion and the necessity for

active effort on the part of all communities to reduce

the hazards of accidents and fatalities, the committee

believes, has put forward the question of uniformity of

statutory and regulatory enactments as one of prime

importance before the country.

In discussing the work already accomplished in this

direction, Col. A. B. Barber, director of the conference,

pointed out to the committee that the recommendations toward uniformity as found in the uniform

motor vehicle code and the model traffic ordinance advocated by the conference for the last six years have

accomplished far-reaching results, and that even where the measures have not been adopted in their

entirety, many provisions and features of them are

in force in a large proportion of the States and cities of the country.

“ The need is to make the uniformity more comprehensive,” Colonel Barber declared. “ The question is one of the most pressing in the field of traffic handling,

and with probably a keener public interest attached to

it at this time than at any other period in recent years.”

During much of the day the committee engaged in a discussion of speed limits by fixed statutory regulation. Some of the members of the committee ex- pressed the belief that the speed limit should be that

which is safe and reasonable under traffic and highway

conditions, while other members of the committee declared that a fixed maximum speed limit is necessary

under existing conditions.

Courtesy necessary requisite.

Dr. TI. C. Dickinson, chief of the heat and power

division of the Bureau of Standards, a member of

the committee, pointed out that “ no regulation works

perfectly in congestion. The man at the wheel must

look out for the other fellow. Common courtesy is the most necessary requisite in safe use of the highways. Safe and careful driving is not limited by

speed, but by existing conditions of the road and of

the traffic at the time.”

Capt. C. D. Farmer, of the State highway patrol

of North Carolina, expressed the belief that a maximum speed limit is still an essential part of traffic regulation. “ Until the examination and licensing of

automobile drivers has become universal in this country, I do not feel that a maximum speed limit can be

safely abandoned,” he said. “ We do not have a driver’s license law in North Carolina. Any person,

regardless of physical condition or ability, can drive an

automobile in our State. That is true in other States

as well. I feel that, until a driver’s license is required

in all States and provision is made for determining

the physical fitness of an individual to handle the

wheel of a car, the fixed maximum speed limit should

not be abandoned.”

Employ highway lanes.

The adoption of traffic lanes on cross-country roads

of sufficient width to carry more than two lines of

traffic came up for discussion. It was pointed out

that with the widening of many existing highways

there is adequate room for more than two lines of

travel. Prevailing tendencies of drivers, it was declared,

is to gravitate toward the middle of the road, and

in this way to reduce the use of the highway to a

single line of traffic in each direction.

The suggestion was made that lanes of adequate

width should be marked on such highways, either by

continuous lines or by placing “ mushroom ” tacks

at given intervals along the highway.

Employment of lanes, in the opinion of many members of the committee, would serve the purpose of

relieving traffic congestion on many heavily traveled

highways.
322

*

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National Bureau of Standards

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ANNOUNCEMENT

STANDARDS

YEARBOOK

• 1930

HE STANDARDS YEARBOOK for 1930 is full of

suggestion and data for all engaged in standardization. The many aspects of the subject

call for a concise summary for busy men who most

need to keep in touch with the latest advances in the

standards field. The StandardsYearbook is designed

to meet this need.

To the interest taken by several departments

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standardization, a special chapter is devoted.

“ Let us raise a standard to which

the wise and the honest can repair."

—washihgtohBrief resumes of the progress made in standardization by governmental agencies in this country are

set forth in several chapters.

Another chapter is devoted to the standardization activities of American technical societies and

trade associations during the year 1929. A summary of the work in standardization con- ducted by national standards associations throughout the world is another feature of the Standards

Yearbook.

There is also given a brief account of international cooperation in standardization.

The StandardsYearbook should be in the personal

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II. International standardizing agencies.

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V. National Bureau of Standards. VT. Municipal, county, and State agencies. VII. General standardizing agencies.

VIII. Standardizing activities of technical

societies and trade associations. IX. Bibliography on standardization, 1929. X. Index.

This is the fourth issue of an annual which has

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bringing up to date current standardization activities and accomplishments in this country and else- where since the 1929 edition of the Yearbook. The

keen and world-wide interest in standardization is shown by the surprisingly large sale of previous

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Standards are concerned with Standards

adopted by voluntary agreement.”

Subscription price, $1 per year

The new Standards Yearbook for 1930 is the

third annual issue of a publication devoted to the great and growing field of Standardization

in its broad aspects. It gives a summary of

progress.

Standardization is a world-wide movement.

It covers all industries. It is part of the application of scientific methods to industry. Its achievements are of interest and concern to business men and manufacturers as well as to engineers. To the technician it is full of

example of methods and results of suggeStive

and Stimulating value. To business men it discloses trends which deeply concern their

interest.

NOW READY Price, 75c. ORDER AT ONCE

“Standardization is becoming an aspect of all well- ordered activity rather than an incidental

activity supplemental to others.”

To obtain regularly tbe above-described publications send your order, witb remittance, addressed: Superintendent

of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. Foreign prices (countries other than tbe United

States, Canada, Mexico, Newfoundland, Cuba, and Republic of Panama) are: Journal, $3.75; Bulletin, $0.40;

Monthly, $1.25; Yearbook, $0.90
“ * * * this department * * * is devoted solely to aiding and fostering the development of higher standards of living and comfort of our people * * * its ideals are clear: That by cooperation and not by compulsion it should seek to assist in maintaining and giving the impulse of progress to commerce and industry in a nation whose successful economic life underlies advancement in every other field.” —President Hoover, at the laying of the corner stone oj the new building

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

THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

R. P. LAMONT, Secretary of Commerce

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

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

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

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

transportation, and religious bodies every 10 years; censuses of agriculture and electrical public utilities every 5 years; and a census of manufactures every 2 years. Compilation of statistics of wealth, public debt and taxation, including financial statistics of local governments, every 10 years; annual compilation of financial statistics of State and municipal governments.

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

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

cities and automobile accidents weekly.

Compilation quarterly or monthly of statistics on cotton, wool, leather, and other industries; annually of forest products;

and publication monthly of Survey of Current Business. BUREAU OF FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC COMMERCE,

William L. Cooper, Director. The collection of timely information concerning world market

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

consular officers, and its distribution through weekly Commerce

Reports, bulletins, confidential circulars, the news and trade

press, and district and cooperative offices in 65 cities. The

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

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

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

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

fundamental technical data. Collection and dissemination of information concerning

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

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

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

utilization of minerals, including the study of mine hazards and

safety methods and of improved methods in the production

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

Research on helium and operation of plants producing it.

BUREAU OF MINES—Continued.

Studies in the economics and marketing of minerals and col- lection of statistics on mineral resources and mine accidents. The dissemination of results of technical and economic

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

BUREAU OF FISHERIES, Henry O’Malley, Commissioner

The propagation and distribution of food fish and shellfish,

in order to prevent the depletion of the fisheries; investigations

to promote conservation of fishery resources; the development

of commercial fisheries and agriculture; study of fishery methods, improvements in merchandising, and collection of fishery

statistics; administration of Alaska fisheries and fur seals; and

the protection of sponges off the coast of Florida. BUREAU OF LIGHTHOUSES, George R. Putnam, Commissioner. Maintenance of lighthouses and other aids to water navigation. Establishment and maintenance of aids to navigation

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

Notices to Mariners.

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

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

Islands, and the Canal Zone; interior control surveys; magnetic surveys; tide and current observations; and seismological

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

BUREAU OF NAVIGATION, Arthur J. Tyrer, Commissioner

Superintendence of commercial marine and merchant seamen.

Supervision of registering, enrolling, licensing, numbering,

etc., of vessels under the United States flag, and the annual

publication of a list of such vessels. Enforcement of the navigation and steamboat inspection laws,

including imposition of fees, fines, tonnage taxes, etc. STEAMBOAT INSPECTION SERVICE, Dickerson N. Hoover, Supervising Inspector General. The inspection of merchant vessels, including boilers, hulls, and life-saving equipment, licensing of officers of vessels, certi- fication of able seamen and lifeboat men, and the investigation

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

Commissioner.

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

prints, and labels after technical examination and judicial

proceedings.

Maintenance of library with public search room, containing

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

and trade-marks. Furnishing copies of records pertaining to patents. Publication of the weekly Official Gazette, showing the patents and trade-marks issued. RADIO DIVISION, W. D. Terrell, Chief. Inspection of radio stations on ships; inspection of radio

stations on shore, including broadcasting stations; licensing radio operators; assigning station call letters; enforcing the terms of the International Radiotelegraphic Convention; and

examining and settling international radio accounts.

U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1930