DEPARTMENT 0? COMMERCE

WASHINGTON, D. C.

MONTHLY HEWS BULLETIN

of

COMMERCIAL STANDARDS GROUP, BUREAU OF STA1DARDS

(This Includes: Division of Simplified Practice ; Division of Specif ications; Commercial Standards Unit; American Marine Standards Committee)

Address Inquiries to Commercial Standards,

August IS; 1928 Room gl6 Commerce Building) Wa shington. No . 4l

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Paragranks Parag:raphs

Adherence to Simplification

Army Benefits Through Waste

3 Proposed Automotive Standards .

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Recent Activities of the Commer5

Elimination

Australians Report on U. S. In6 cial Standards Group

Recommendations in Acceptance

20

Anstrinl Grvnrl i t,i nns 9 S tage 16

Better Quality and Lower Price.. 1 Simpler Stocks Needed 7 British Printers Adopt Standards 12 Statistical Information an Asset

Company Takes up Simplification. 11 to Business 10

Consumer Demand to be Studied. .

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19 Summary of Quarterly Report 2

Forms Gray Iron Institute 8 Swe di sh Grade-Marki ng 17

Importance of Standardization... 13 The Invoice Form i4

Marking of Linens 18 To Make Survey of Industrial

Modernization of Methods 4 Equipment 15

1. BETTER QUALITY AND LOUER PRICE

Ray M. Hudson, Assistant Director, Commercial Standards.

The constant cry of the buyer from the early days of barter has been

"better quality and lower price", - better value for the same or for less

money. The problem of answering the buyer to his full satisfaction, under

present conditions, is bothering many a manufacturer. No one solution to this

problem applies in all cases; a choice may have to be made according to tne

nature of the business, but there’s no use saying, "It can’t be done". There

are too many examples of the man who says, "It can’t be done", being interrupted by somebody doing it.

Scientific research is enabling manufacturers to improve the quality of

materials entering into their products. It is also bringing out hitherto un- known or little understood properties of commonplace materials. New and substitute materials are coming to the front in several fields, oftentimes

possessing certain advantages to the consumer over tne materials they rare displaced. Quality improvement through research is not new to American industry,

but the steadily widening application of research reflects a growing appreciation of its value in bettering quality.
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Monthly News Bulletin No. 4l —2.

Simplification is likewise contributing to this end. Concentration of

effort on a simplified line often makes it possible to improve the quality of

a product. Defects, even minor faults, which in the days of too many lines,

short runs, and frequent changes of machine set-ups, were overlooked, are em- phasized by reason of their proportions even though the frequency of their occurence may be no greater than before.

But when units are made by the thousand instead of by the hundred, then

the 11 seconds" make a larger pile and attract more notice. Someone gets curious;

somebody wants to know why the pile is so big. Then corrections begin. Maybe

better raw material is bought, more care is given it in process, perhaps the

machines are improved. Eventually, the cause is located and the frequency of

the defect is cut down. Product quality is improved as the result of simplification. So far as simplification has coincidently helped to make mass production possible and thus lower unit costs, it has made a double contribution.

3y reducing "seconds", spoiled work or scrap, and by lowering unit costs,

simplification has provided the manufacturer with one answer, - and a profitable

one at that, - to the buyers age-old cry, - "Better Quality and Lower Price".

2. SUMMARY OP QUARTERLY REPORT - During the quarter ending June JO, 1928,

seven new simplified practice recommendations were completed, making

a total of 95 completed recommendations to date. During the quarter

11 new projects were suggested to the Division of Simplified Practice

There are at present 39 active projects.

During the quarter the total acceptances of simplified practice recom mendations increased from 9>^5 to 10,637* Nine general and twentyone preliminary conferences were held by various industries, under

the auspices of the Division of Simplified Practice, for the purpose

of discussing simplification.

During this same period five general and twelve preliminary conferences were held under the auspices of the Commercial Standards Unit.

3 . ADHERENCE TO SIMPLIFICATION - A total of nine simplified practice recommen- dations came before their respective standing committees for review

during the quarter ending June JO, 1928. Three were revised, five were reaffirmed, and one (Simplified Practice Recommendation No. 28 - Sheet Steel) the standing committee deemed necessary to divide into

two portions, to be published separately, one on Sneet Steel and the

other on Iron and Steel Roofing, the latter to be known as Recommendation No . 72.

Of the nine recommende.ti ons reviewed, six were supported by factual

surveys, while estimates of adherence were accepted for two, and one was reaffirmed, without either a resurvey or estimate. The average

degree of adherence as determined by surveys was 83-97 ?er cent for

the six recommendations. The estimated adherence for the two without

surveys was 80 and 89 per cent respectively. The average degree of

adherence for these figures is 84.32 per cent.
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Monthly News Bulletin No, 4l

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4. MODERNIZATION OF METHODS - The small manufacturing concerns must adopt

modern methods to survive according to Dwight A. Smith, construction engineer, and. Robert E. Branch, mechanical engineer, of

San Francisco.

In a recent article appearing in one of the trade papers these two

writers stated that the "present hit '‘and miss methods of manufacture

must be supplanted by advanced production methods if small concerns

are to come through the present period of intense competition".

5 . PROPOSED AUTOMOTIVE STANDARDS - Forty new and revised standards for aircraft and motor vehicle parts and fittings are covered in reports

submitted by divisions and subdivisions of the standards committee

of the Society of Automotive Engineers. Eighteen of these relate to

aeronautic standards, such as dimensions, weight and the like of aircraft storage batteries, propeller hubs, tail-skid shoe mountings,

engine starter mountings and instrument mountings and aircraft

hardware

Of the recommended new standards, twenty-one are new specifications

and seventeen are revisions of existing standards as printed in the

S. A. E. Handbook.

Of most popular interest in connection with motor vehicle standards

is the proposed standardization of 13 baloon tire and rim sizes to

greatly reduce the existing number, viscosity numbers for prediluted

crankcase lubricating oils as well as undiluted oils, sizes of incandescent lamp bases and sockets to avoid too tight or too loose

fits, air-cleaner mounting dimensions, spark plug tolerances, and

plate glass specifications covering the quality of the glass supplied

to the car manufacturer.

ARMY BENEFITS THROUC-H WASTE ELIMINATION - The entire military service has

been given a new point of view regarding economical administration

by an efficiency survey recently ordered by the Secretary of War,

Dwight F. Davis, according to a statement by the War Department.

Several months ago he directed the initiation of a survey to see that the maximum was rendered by every dollar of array appropriations,

with the statement that he wanted a careful and thorough check on all business transactions and procedure in the army. All waste was

to be eliminated. That no one would be spared was shown by the fact

that he directed the inspection be started in his own office.

7. SIMPLER STOCKS NEEDED - Stocks simplification, even in a well managed drug

store, is a vital need, it is revealed by current analysis of toilet

goods sales, covering six months 1 sales of toilet goods in a Philadelphia store of the typical "residential" type. This analysis

showed that in this period 5 >592 sales had been made on 434 lines,

but that 159 of them had produced 4,155 sales. This was /4 per cent

of the total.

Monthly News Bulletin No. 41--4.

The amount taken in on the 5 >592 sales, nearly a third of which

were made up of dental goods, was $1,922. This Brought the average

sale to a little more than 3^ cents. In the five principal groups

of goods carried the number of lines represented in the total of

'434 ranged from 13 of hand goods to I 32 of facial. The average sale

in the five groups was as follows: Hair goods, 36 cents; shaving,

46 cents; dental, 3 ^ cents; facial, 4l cents; and hand, 36 cents.

Stock turnover for the six months ranged from a rate of 4.2 times a year in facial goods to 9.6 times in dental. The gross margin of

profit showed a low of 32 per cent on shaving goods and a high of

37 per cent on facial.

8 . FORMS GRAY IRON INSTITUTE - Among recently formed trade associations is

the Gray Iron Institute, organized on a permanent basis during a meeting in Philadelphia of gray iron foundry interests. The stated

purposes of the Institute are as follows: (l) Promotion of sound

business ethics in the industry; (2) Collection and distribution of

information relative to the manufacture of gray iron castings;

( 3 ) Study of new methods for merchandising gray iron castings, to

strengthen present markets, to develop new markets and to discover

new uses; (4) Promotion of uniformity in methods of cost accounting;

(5) Research work to further improve the quality of gray iron

castings; ( 6 ) Establishment and maintenance of standards of quality

for gray iron castings.

9. AUSTRALIANS REPORT ON U. S. INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS - An opportunity to "see

ourselves as others see us" is afforded American business by the

83-page printed report of the Australian Industrial Delegation on

its investigation of "the method employed in, and the working con- ditions associated with, the manufacturing industries of the United

States"

The Industrial Delegation spent four and a half months early in 1927 , visiting 56 cities representing, many kinds of manufacturing in all

parts of the United States. The investigation was planned to procure

"a volume of facts and recommendations which might aid in increasing

the efficiency and promoting the development of the secondary industries in Australia." Included in the report were the following

subjects: capital , research, management, efficiency of plants,

efficiency of personnel, standardization and simplification, and

elimination of waste, etc.

10. STATISTICAL INFORMATION AN ASSET TO BUSINESS - The practical application

of current statistical information by American business men has been

one of the outstanding factors in our generally sustained prosperity

during the last five years according to Mortimer B. Lane of the

Census Bureau in a study of the use of current -business statistics

just issued by the Commerce Department. Periods of similar commercial and industrial activity, it is pointed out, have as a rule been

characterized by more or less violent fluctuations. Nearly three

hundred specific instances of the use of statistics in business have

been collected by Ur. Lane who presents suggestions as to how tnese

figures may be used to the best advantage. Tne small business man,

he states, has been particularly benefited through the use of current

statistics, information he could not hope to obtain without collec-
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Monthly News Bulletin Mo. 4l —5-

The rise of statistics from small beginnings to a position of such

commending importance, it is pointed out, has been a definite re- sponse to the growing needs of business. The business executive

of today can not have either in his mind or in the possession of

his ov.il concern all the facts necessary for intelligent business

judgment. He must not only know how his firm is doing but must com- pare his branch of industry with industry as a whole and must know

the buying conditions of his customers as well as the condition of

his material markets. These data he cannot got within his own organization for they can be gathered only by agencies representing

or collecting figures for an entire industry.

The result of this need of the business world has been the growth of

statistical services by government departments, trade associations,

periodicals and individual business concerns. The data thus collected are brought together by the Bureau of the Census and presented

in the Commerce Department's publication "Survey of Current Business".

Through the medium of this survey the public now has the benefit of no less than 1,700 separate indicators of business trends.

Almost all important business organizations now make use of statistical information for the guidance of their respective activites,

including such important industries as the textile, machinery, oil,

leather, automobile, chemical, lumber, food products, advertising and

insurance. The meaning of the various statistical terms is explained,

with examples of their interpretation, taken from, the experience of

business firms.

Copies of "How to Use Current Business Statistics" may be obtained

for 15 cents from the Superintendent of Documents, Government PrintingOffice, Washington, D.C.

11. COMPANY TAKES UP SIMPLIFICATION - Simplified Practice is being taken up in

earnest by the Johns-Manville Corporation, a simplification committee

having been recently appointed by the President of the Corporation,

to make a systematic study of its products, with a view to simplifying

the present lines. The concern is at the present time manufacturing

more than 2S00 different items.

Manufacturers are finding it very expensive to make a small quantity

of a certain item, in these days of high labor and machine costs. Long

runs on standardized goods are found much more profitable and, generally, adequate. The savings effected by simplification, as reported

by numerous industries are really remarkable, and fully deserve the

wholehearted cooperation of every manufacturer. Incidentally they

benefit the general public by making possible lower selling prices.
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Monthly hews Bulletin ho. 41 —

12. BRITISH PRINTERS ADOPT STANDARDS - The Federation of Master Printers, a British organization, has been active in the movement for standardizing paper purchases as have the printers in the United States.

The English movement hits been joined by the wholesale stationers.

Up to 1925, paper was sold by the ream, which might run anywhere

from to j l6 sheets , according to the class of paper.

The printer wasted a good deal of time in estimating and counting

the number of sheets required for a given job. Purchases are now

to be made, or at least are recommended, on the basis of 1,000

sheets, and packed in thousands, reams of 500 , or packages of 250 . The initiative in this movement came from the Stationery Office,

which is the largest user of book paper in Great Britain, and re- quires the new standard in the tenders which it receives.

13. IMPORTANCE OF STANDARDIZATION - Efforts toward standardization are regarded by many people as hampering individual initiative and an attempt to make everything alike, states the Mining Congress Journal, editorially, adding, that "the importance of standardization,

notwithstanding its opponents, is of very great value to all industries and particularly to the mining industry.

"The average manufacturing plant is located near some central source

of supply for the securing of parts, while the mining plant is

located where the mineral exists and usually at a point distant from

where supplies can be obtained. The latter is therefore, required

to keep on hand a considerable supply of the various parts and where

each machine had its own size screw bolts and other parts, it was necessary to keep a number of stocks of supplies in order to have

them available in times of breakdown.

"Standardization has another advantage which perhaps has been lost

sight of, says the Mining Congress Journal, viz., that the cost of

production is less for a larger number of parts. For instance, the

American Engineering Standards Committee recently adopted standard

hexagonal head cap screws which can be obtained at a cost of $9 per

hundred, while the old style screws in the same size but of different makes and in small lots, cost from $49.90 to $ 70-00 per hundred.

"The isolated manufacturing plant, no matter what its character, has

a decided interest in such standardization as will enable it to

reduce the stock of supplies and parts required, and all plants

wherever located, have a decided interest in securing these parts

at that low cost which is made possible by mass production", conc lude s the editorial.

l4. THE INVOICE FORM - In writing of the reorganization of the purchasing

methods in use by the Canadian National Railways in The Railway Age,

Mr. H. L. Taylor, Assistant Purchasing Agent, states that "the

standard invoice form was adopted shortly after its approval by the

American Railway Association. Since the simplified invoice form

has come into existence, firms are being urged to adopt it. Fully

75 per cent of the invoices are now either on standard or simplified

forms". According to Mr. Taylor, advance contracts, simplified practice, and educational classes bring more efficient operation on the

roads

Monthly Hews Bulletin Ho. 4l —

15. TO MAKE SURVEY OE INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT - The Department of Commerce is

about to undertake a requested study of industrial equipment. One

objective of this study which will be conducted by the Domestic

Commerce Division, is to determine the amount of obsolete equipment

and its importance as a factor in the inability of firms manufacturing similar products to compete on an equally profitable basis.

The replacement of machinery which in point of service may have

many years of usefulness but which in point of satisfying the latest

fancies of the consumer market is obsolete, is an important matter

for the manufacturers and one which is behind the request for the

survey to be made by the Department.

16. RECOMMENDATIONS IN ACCEPTANCE STAGE - As of July 1, 192S, there were

twenty simplified practice recommendations in process of acceptance.

Before they can be published by the Department of Commerce, at least

30 per cent of the manufacturers, distributors and users, by volume

of annual production, must accept them in writing.

These recommendations apply to Vegetable Shortening Containers, Lead

Pencils, Turnbuckles , Iron and Steel Roofing, Malleable Foundry

Refractories, Folding and Portable Wooden Chairs, Binders Board,

Hollow Metal Doors, Ealamein Doors, Composition Books, Adhesive

Plaster, Surgical Gauze, Forms for Concrete Ribbed Floor Construction,

Floor Sweeps, Coated Abrasive Products, Hacksaw Blades, Ply and Yarn

Goods of Hard Fiber Cordage, Tags paper, Fire Engines, and Lift

T lucks

17. SWEDISH GRADE-MARKING - " Grade -marking” is the back-bone of the Swedish

lumber industry, according to Mr. Axel F. Wallenberg, internationally

known Swedish lumber producer and former Minister of that country to

the United States. In a recent communication to the National Committee on Wood Utilization of the Department of Commerce,

Mr. Wallenberg strongly supported the system of marking every piece

of lumber with a symbol indicative of its grade or quality.

"From my experience, the grade-marking of Swedish lumber has been

the back-bone of the industry because consumers of Swedish lumber, in

practically every country of the world know that the quality of

Swedish lumber is as represented by the grade-marks" he said in his

communication. "Year in and year out the consumers are demanding the same quality and this has, naturally, stabilized the trade."

13. MARKING OF LINENS - The National Better Business Bureau, Inc.,*: with its

affiliated bj> local business bureaus is sponsoring a movement for

the accurate marking of all linens to measure. Eighty-six importers,

representing 60 per cent of the trade, are said already to have

agreed to follow that Bureau's recommendation in their business.

19. CONSUITER DEMAND TO BE STUDIED - The Domestic Commerce Division of the

Department of Commerce is about to undertake a study of consumer

demand, with respect to groceries. The results of the study will

supplement studies of distribution costs in the wholesale and retail

grocery trade, now being compiled by that Division. The importance

of consumer demand in influencing methods of distribution, as well

Monthly Hews Bulletin Ho. '41 —-g.

as types of product and methods of packaging, is coming to "be appreciated more and more. Analysis of the mechanical aspects of production has already reached an advanced stage, and the study of

distribution processes is getting under way, but comparatively little

has been done to determine consumer buying habits and their possible

influence on problems of producers and distributors.

20. RECENT ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMERCIAL STANDARDS C-ROUP.

DIVISIOU OF SIMPLIFIED PRACTICE.

WAX PAPER - A survey is being made through the American Waxed Paper

Association, to determine the diversity now existing in waxed paper sizes.

Data will be secured from both members and non-members of the association.

PAPER TOWELS - The Secretary of the Tissue Paper Manufacturers Association is taking up with his membership the question of making a survey,

to be used as the basis of a simplification program.

CONCRETE SEWER MANHOLE AND CATCH BASIN BLOCKS - A committee is now

working on a simplification program for this commodity.

PHOTOGRAPHIC PAPER - A meeting of the Simplified Practice Committee

of manufacturers of Photographic Paper was held in Hew York on July 23 , to

consider the program which the committee has been developing for some time

for the simplification of various kinds of photographic paper. It is ex- pected that the final meeting of the committee will be held this month,

when the schedule of sizes will be completed, in preparation for a general

conference of all interests.

LEAD PENCILS - The final schedule for the simplification of lead

pencils has been approved and will be placed before the industry for acceptance in the near future.

LUGGAGE - A member of the staff has been invited to address the

Luggage Dealers Convention in Hew York City on August 17 th on the subject

"Standardizing Luggage Sizes". The National Luggage Dealers Association

has worked out a suggested list of sizes for the consideration of the

luggage industry, covering trunks, suit cases, hat boxes, etc. It is the

opinion of some that if the industry can arrive at a standardization of

sizes, it will be of great economic value to both the manufacturer and

re tailer.

SCRUB BRUSHES - A meeting of scrub brush manufacturers held in June,

voted that a preliminary survey be conducted under the auspices of the

Division of Simplified Practice, with the view of developing a simplified

practice recommendation covering a list of standard sizes for stock items.

A survey questionnaire is in course of preparation.

Monthly News Bulletin No. 4l

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BEVERAGE BOTTLES - The bottlers of carbonated beverages as well

as the bottle manufacturers are seeking some relief from the great

variety of heights and capacities of bottles that are being used by

the carbonated beverage industry and they have asked for the assistance

of the Division of Simplified Practice towards organizing to correct

this condition. A preliminary conference was held at the Department of

Commerce on Saturday, August 11th, to discuss this problem and the

appointment of a simplified practice Committee to conduct a variety

survey.

ICE CREAM CANS - The Committee on Simplified Practice, of the

International Association of Ice Cream Manufacturers , in conjunction

with representatives of ice cream can manufacturing companies, met

June 6 th, 192S, in New York City, to further the program of can simplification. A display of ice cream cans now being manufactured, enabled

the members of the committee to compare the different types and sizes

and determine upon simplified list of sizes. It was recommended that

these sizes be submitted at the annual convention of the International

Association of Ice Cream manufacturers at Cleveland, during the week of

October 15 th for consideration and criticism. When the standard-sized

cans are finally adopted by manufacturers, distributors and users, it

will eliminate the confusion now existing because of the many types and

sizes of cans on the market.

GLASS CONTAINERS FOR DRUG AND PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY - At a preliminary conference of representatives of the drug and pharmaceutical

industry and the Glass Container Association held July 6 th, a motion

was presented which unanimously carried, that a joint standardization

and simplification committee be appointed to consist of one voting

delegate and two associate delegates from each of the National Drug and

Pharmaceutical Associations and the Glass Container Association of

America in cooperation with the United States Department of Commerce

for coordinating the efforts of the various groups concerned in the

simplification and standardization of glass containers used in the drug

and pharmaceutical industries.

GLASS CONTAINERS FOR JELLY AND PRESERVES - A general conference to

discuss the simplification of jelly glass and preserve jar sizes and

capacities has been postponed until some time in September. This con- ference will be held in Washington in conjunction with the mid-year con- vention of the National Preservers Association.

TYPE FACES - For several months the United Typothetae of America

and the Division of Simplified Practice of this Department have been

cooperating in an effort to ascertain the views of leading printers and

manufacturers of type as to the advisability of inaugurating a simplification program to reduce the excessive variety of type faces. At the

request of the United Typothetae of America, the Division of Simplified

Practice will arrange for a preliminary conference in the fall to con- sider the subject of simplification of type faces.
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Monthly Hews Bulletin Ho. 4l —10.

HOOD CONTAINERS - Consideration of the general problem of how "best

to pack, handle and distribute food products is engaging the attention

of packers, shippers, grocers and other interested groups. At the

thirty-first annual convention of the National Association of Retail

Grocers, held in Hew Orleans, June 11 to l4, 1928, the following reso- lution was passed:

"Resolved, that the Hational Association of Retail Grocers apply to

the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Simplified Practice, and the

Bureau of Commercial Standards to make a national survey among the

retail grocery stores, the wholesale grocers and the food manufacturers to ascertain the need for simplification in the various food

and household lines."

HOSPITAL PLUMBING PIXTUKES - A tentative simplified practice

recommendation for hospital plumbing fixtures has been worked out by the

manufacturers of vitreous china, porcelain and enameled fixtures. This

recommendation is now in the hands of the Standardization and Simplification Committee of the American Hospital Association for review and

further recommendation as to definite types and sizes to be used as standard items for various purposes.

AMERICAN MARINE STANDARDS COMMITTEE.

The American Marine Standards Committee, which in actual operation

is regarded as a unit of the Division of Simplified Practice, was organized primarily to promote simplification of practice and economy in the

construction, operation and maintenance of ships and port facilities.

In its plan of organization the underlying authority is vested in

a membership enrolled from the marine and allied industries. An executive board elected annually from and by the membership, appoints and con

trols the administrative officers and technical committees, directs the

general policies, and defines the technical working program. Its secretary, who is in effect the executive officer, has his headquarters in the

Division of Simplified Practice.

During the second quarter of the current calendar year, the Executive Board held one meeting at which it approved, the reorganization of

the Technical Committees on "Hull Details" and on "Engineering Details".

Approved 9 proposed amendments to the Constitution and 13 proposed

amendments to the General Rules. Approved the suggestion that standard

specifications be developed for wire ropes for marine use, together with

information to indicate the most suitable types, grades, and sizes for

various specific purposes and decided to develop proposed standard speci

fications for the prime operations in ship construction. The Board

approved the following standards for promulgation:

Monthly Hews Bulletin Ho. 4l —11.

Revised standard for rigging screws with spliced rope; revised standard

for rigging screws with sockets; specification for metallic -packing for

condenser tubes; specifications for rubber air hose, rubber steam hose,

l-l/2" water hose, 2-1/2" water suction hose, and oil suction and discharge hose, specifications for insulation of piping and machinery.

Approved the following specifications for insulation materials:

Magnesia molded pipe covering and blocks; magnesia asbestos cement or plaster; asbestos millboard; hair felt for insulation; cotton duck for

insulation coverings; hubs for built-up propellers with flush faces and

fairwater caps for same; scupper valves of sizes 3"> 4", 5 ") and 6";

medicine chests and contents for ocean-going vessels, coastwise and lake

freighters, and small vessels; steps, heel fittings and caps for tubular

steel cargo booms, including proposed alternative standard for the boom

caps subject to developement

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At this meeting the Executive Board also created a Standing Committee on "International Standardization of Shipbuilding Details" to which all

proposals for international marine standards are to be referred for recom- mendation to the Board.

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