COMMERCIAL

STANDARDS

MONTHLY

A Review of Progress in

Commercial Standardization and Simplification

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

ISSUED BY THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS OF THE UNITED

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

Vol. 8, No. 11 MAY, 1932

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

R. P. LAMONT, Secretary

BUREAU OF STANDARDS

GEORGE K. BURGESS, Director

COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY, S. F. Tillman, Editor

The Commercial Standardization Group

DIVISION OF SIMPLIFIED PRACTICE

Edwin W. Ely

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

eliminating unnecessary variety of produdt, method, or

pradtice. Its fundtion is to bring together all parties inter- ested in a projedl of this charadler, and to coordinate their

work in developing a simplified pradlice recommendation.

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

that program for adtion by a general conference representing

all interests. The division then transmits to all concerned

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

of acceptances is sufficient to indicate initial success, the

Department of Commerce indorses the program and publishes

the recommendation. The division thereafter cooperates

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

degree of adherence, to maintain and extend support of the

recommendation, and to secure data for reaffirmation or

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

waSte. The division Stands ready to render

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

will reduce waSte, Stabilize business, or extend commerce.

BUILDING AND HOUSING DIVISION

J. S. Taylor

STANDARDIZATION

..IS.. A CONTINUING PROCESS

DIVISION OF SPECIFICATIONS

A. S. McAlli^er

The duties of the division of specifications are to promote

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

technical societies; trade associations; Federal, State, and

municipal Government specifications making and using

agencies; producers, distributors, and consumers; and teSting

and research laboratories. It ascertains the Standardization

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

done by the commercial Standardization group. It brings the

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

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

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

nongovernmental teSting laboratories and the Directory of

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

have been issued, namely, “Standards and

Specifications in the Wood-Using Industries”

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

aids in preparing the Standards Yearbook.

The division of building and housing,

formed in 1921, cooperates with business,

technical, and professional groups in furthering conStrucftion activities. It works to modernize building codes and to encourage improved Standards for the quality of building construction, and the practical application of the lateSt development in desic;n and use of building materials.

It encourages home ownership through the development

of an enlarged, Sfeadier, more intelligent, and more discriminating demand for dwellings—the largeSt single class of

buildings which the construction industries provide.

The division also cooperates with other governmental

agencies and with many private business and professional

groups in efforts to distribute building acftivity more evenly

throughout the year and to secure less flucftuation from

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

objecftive of making buildings more useful through proper

location with respecft to other Strucflures, Stabilizing of land

values and property uses, well coordinated thoroughfare

systems, and well laid out public works.

G>0 ITS AIM IS NOT FIXITY OR STAGNATION

..BUT.. TO ADD SERVICEABILITY

AS OFTEN AS THE

POTENTIAL GAIN

MAKES IT WORTH WHILE

DIVISION OF TRADE STANDARDS

I. J. Fairchild

The division of trade Standards, on requeSt,

assists industrial and commercial groups in the voluntary establishment of Standards

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

basis for marketing manufacftured commodities.

The detail criteria are selecfted or determined voluntarily

by interested buyers or sellers, without any Government

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

the composite views of all branches. The division functions

chiefly as a neutral agency to see that all interested elements

are given full opportunity to be heard and satisfied; to

solicit and record acceptances; and to publish and promulgate

the Standard when a satisfaStory majority of acceptances is obtained and provided there is no adtive opposition.

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

Provision is made for regular revision of the Standard

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

in order that it may be kept constantly compatible with

progress in the industry.

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

A Review of Progress in

Commercial Standardization and Simplification

Volume 8 WASHINGTON, D. C., MAY, 1932 Number 11

SUBJECT ANALYSIS

COMMUNICATION

Page Art of communication 340

Communication of standard time signals 326

Safety on the highway 341 CONSTRUCTION

Brick producers adopt new rules 329

Concrete building units 344

Iowa revises specifications for bridges and culverts 340

Original methods used in home-improvement campaigns. 325

Recommendation of wheelbarrows receives approval of industry 325

Safety on the highway. . 341 School building construction 319

Significance of grade-marking of lumber in Boston 330

ELECTRICAL

Certifying the electric layout 339

Publications available on electrical standards 343

GROUP ACTIVITIES American Society for Testing Materials 337

American Standards Association 331 Approval of commercial standards as American standards. 339

Brick producers adopt new rules 329

Fostering standardization 332

Industrial standardization and mobilization 338

International meeting of secretaries of standardizing

agencies planned for May and June of this year 342

Original methods used in home-improvement campaigns 325

Screw thread standardization 329

Standardization as an aid to retail merchandising 336

Standards year book for 1932 318

Textile awards to encourage research work 342

INTERNATIONAL AND FOREIGN

Page

British standards for air receivers 337

International meeting of secretaries of standardizing

agencies planned for May and June of this year 342

New Zealand creates board to aid secondary industries.. 323

Norway’s standardization report for 1931 issued bv association ‘ 342

MECHANICAL

Diamond core-driU fittings 343

Screw-thread standardization 329

Standardizing sizes and ratings by means of preferred

numbers 322

PAPER AND WOOD

Singletrees, doubletrees, and neck yokes 328

Standards proposed for wood-fiber insulating board 335

Wooden butter tubs 32

1

QUALITY MARKS AND LABELS

Certifying the electric layout 339

Changes in marking canned goods 339

Hospital rubber sheeting 343

Identification of simplified lines in trade publications 343

Labeling of food products 335

Significance of grade-marking of lumber in Boston 330

Standardizing and inspecting field crop products in California 324

Truth in beef through grading and stamping 344 Use of quality label in farm marketing program 331 TEXTILE Hard fiber twines 344

Knit underwear standard published by bureau 344

Simplification of flax and hemp twine before industry for acceptance 344

AN INVITATION TO VISIT THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS

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

the Bureau of Standards when in Washington. A personally conducted trip is organized at 2.15 p. m. daily except on holidays. Special trips for groups may he arranged at other times by writing

to the bureau in advance. The bureau’s illustrated Visitor’s Manual ma}^ 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

modem arts and industries.

117482—32 1 317
STANDARDS YEARBOOK

1932

HE STANDARDS YEARBOOK for 1932 outlining the activities and accomplishments of not only the Federal Government but also those of States, municipalities, and trade

associations, is just off the press. It is the sixth annual issue

of a publication devoted to the great and ever-growing field of

standardization in its broad aspects. It gives a summary of

progress the world over. Included among the special articles for the 1932 Yearbook

is a symposium on standardization in communication. Experts

in the many lines of communication have contributed articles

to the symposium.

Industry has become a vast complex of measurements controlling the design, making, and use of its products. Broadly,

standardization is the measured control of industrial evolution.

Hence, it reaches out to touch every field of human activity.

It includes simplification and “rationalization” as parts of a system designed to place the measurements of science in the

controlling positions of industry. Its achievements are of interest and concern to business men and manufacturers as well

as to engineers. To the technician the Yearbook is full of

example of methods and results of suggestive and stimulating

value. To business men it discloses trends which deeply con- cern their interest.

Copies of this publication may be obtained from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C., at Si each.

318
MAT, 1932 COMMEECIAL STANDABDS MONTHLY 319

SCHOOL-BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

Bureau of Standards Contributes to Solution of Many of the Problems Encountered

By James S. Tayxoe, Buremt of Standards

A school building to a passer-by is all too frequently

just a school building. Neither the patient planning

of those who conceived it nor the problems within

especially of turning out intelligent citizens, 5, 10, or

15 years hence—is given more than a passing thought.

Yet to produce it clay may have been dug and molded

and subjected to seething flame, rock may have been

ground, sifted, and burned in fiery kilns, molten steel may have poured from huge ladles, and woodmen’s

axes may have rung out in the forests of Alabama or

in the high Sierras.

In less spectacular fashion the problems that are attacked at the Bureau of Standards also have their

interest. What establishes how large floor joists

should be, what helps to make a brick wall resistant to a driving rain storm, what sort of material is good to use on steps to prevent slipping, how can light be persuaded to enter and stay in the schoolroom, what is a good sort of table top to use in a chemical laboratory,

how can those annoying echoes in the lecture hall be

subdued and made to behave? These are questions

that have considerable interest. One of the major problems of the educator is to provide adequate space for the ever-increasing number

of pupils. With the insistent parent on the one hand

expecting service and the frowning taxpayer (often

the same person) on the other talking economy, this

task is not an easy one. Great ingenuity has been

shown in meeting the situation with improved administrative methods. However, possible savings in construction deserve attention.

Safety in construction is, of course, essential; but

when safety plus a resonable margin is exceeded, waste

enters. It has been the privilege of bureau experts

and cooperating committees to explore that nebulous

region where safety ends and waste begins.

Specific things for which to watch might be pointed

out. Through increased knowledge of building materials gained by testing, greater working stresses have

become possible. A few years ago 16,000 pounds per

square inch was the commonly accepted basic stress for steel. To-day, 18,000 pounds has general acceptance. The consequence is that smaller columns and

beams may be used and savings made. Here again one must check the local building code. Perhaps it has

been revised to permit the 18,000-pound stress. Bearing walls are another feature to watch. Their thick- ness is often greater than necessary. Dead-end corridors, a place where pupils may be trapped in case of

fire, may be eliminated with skillful designing.

Other economies not concerned with safety are possible. Perhaps suspended ceilings can be omitted,

leaving masonry floor joists exposed without apology.

Perhaps exterior ornamentation can be cut down.

Perhaps individual vents of plumbing fixtures can be

changed to a group system of venting resulting in less piping and fewer gadgets. The educator has a right

to discuss all these matters and to get a reasonable

explanation for what is done.

Let us take an imaginary pupil, follow him through

his day of study and play at school, and see at how

many points something done at the Bureau of Standards may affect him. Patient research along many

lines has developed facts which have been freely available to architects, contractors, material producers, and

others and have been accepted voluntarily because

they were unbiased and useful.

Our pupil ascends the school steps and enters the

corridor, all unmindful of the fact that the chances

of his slipping on various flooring materials have been

investigated. If it is a wet day and the corridor

floors have become coated with moisture, this does

not matter. Such conditions have been taken into

consideration. Kesearch Paper 204 at the bureau

gives the results of experiments with various kinds

of shoe soles and floor surfaces. It offers means of

obtaining data through tests which could be used for

a rough classification of walk-way materials according to their relative safety under different service

conditions.

Then, too, the janitor can make short work of the

mud and grime by the use of scouring powders for

floors described in Circular 370, just as he can make

the rest of the building interior spic and span through

hard work and the aid of Circular 383 on washing,

cleaning, and polishing materials. We had an associate work for a year or two on the single problem of

removing from marble such stains as ink. Our own

publication (division of building and housing) on

Care and Repair of the House, which has its appeal

as a means of practical education in home maintenance

and in vocational training, also helps in the school

by baring the secrets of the dripping water faucet and

telling how one can overcome the exasperations of a

sticking door lock with a little amateur work. To

those who have a mental picture of bureau publications as limited to scientific treatises containing nothing lower than fourth power equations, this helpful

little booklet will come as a surprise. Many bureau

publications, it is true, are technical in nature, as would be expected in the case of a institution internationally famed for its scientific attainments ; but many

are also prepared especially for the average citizen

who wants to get useful facts undiluted by propaganda

of any sort. As he entered, the pupil was perhaps guarded from

danger of collapse of the building due to the weight

of tbe furniture, his own weight and that of other

pupils, because certain minimum load figures had been

used in designing the floors. The local building code

perhaps set forth such figures. Perhaps nobody knew

exactly from whence they came. But it is true that

in many municipalities they have been adopted as a

result of recommendations made by the Building Code

Committee of the Department of Commerce, which

functions in connection with the division of building

and housing of the bureau. To get these figures, furniture and other contents were weighed and the loads

to be expected in various occupancies were determined.
320 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY MAY, 1932

The determination of the loads where there is rhythmic movement, as in connection with school children, was a very difficult problem in that connection.

If the building is modern and built in accordance

with well-recognized practice, there is little chance

that the pupil will be injured by fire. A species of

legalized arson has been carried on at the bureau by

its fire-resistance section whereby the contents of typical rooms have been deliberately set on fire and the

results scientifically recorded. By artificially creating

fire of equal intensity and observing the effects on

various building materials, the kind and thickness nec- essary to resist the destructive effect of fire for given

periods has been obtained. In addition, definite rec- ommendations have been made as to the heights to which school buildings made of various materials

should be built and the frequency with which they

should be divided by fire-proof walls to limit the

spread of fire as a ship is divided by water-tight bulklieads. For instance, our building code committee has

recommended that such walls should be provided for

every 5,000 square feet of floor area in the case of a

2-story school building of ordinary brick wall and

wood joist construction.

In some States and municipalities fire resistive or incombustible construction is required for schools of more than one or two stories. In other jurisdictions

the authorities responsilfie for the construction of new

schools, realizing some of the advantages which accrue from the additional safety of such construction, are using it without the compulsion of law or ordinance.

The researches on the properties of building material

and construction conducted by the Bureau of Standards during the past decade or two have assisted

building designers and constructors in obtaining a needed degree of fire resistance at minimum cost and

without sacrifice of other desirable properties as heat

and sound insulation.

The fire safety of school auditoriums of large size,

especially where theatricals are promoted, requires the

installation of automatic sprinklers over the stage

loft and an incombustible, fire-resistive curtain for the

proscenium opening. The curtain should also be ar- ranged for automatic operation in the event of an

outbreak of fire when no attendant is present for the

lowering of the curtain. The regulations recom- mended by the Bureau of Standards based on tests of the principal types of proscenium curtains serve as

a guide in providing fire-resistive curtains for schools. Our pupil is now seated in his place expectantly

awaiting his daily quota of knowledge. Probably the

desk at which he sits is finished with a color that has

been agreed upon as standard by manufacturers, dis- tributors, and school authorities meeting under the

auspices of the division of simplified practice at the

bureau. At such meetings a range of color tones has

been established that simplifies the stocking of school

equipment for the manufacturers and makes possible

quicker and more satisfactory delivery. This decision

to limit stock colors for certain types is contained in

Simplified Practice Recommendation Rlll-30.

The blackboard upon which he will presently have

to solve some classic mathematical problem bears

evidence of the bureau’s activities. Manufacturers,

distributors, and users have again decided to limit

stock sizes to certain dimensions, and their findings

have been registered in Simplified Practice Recommendation 15, on Blackboard Slate. Incidentally, it might be remarked that blackboards, like human beings, grow gray with age and that so far the problem

of dealing with aging blackboards has not been met in any more satisfactory manner than with people. It appears to fall into the same class as trisecting an

angle or squaring the circle. Light streams into the schoolroom from windows

whose size and relation to floor area have been worked

out by illuminating engineers with whom the bureau

has maintained close contact and shared its accumulation of knowledge. Artificial lighting for dull days

has also come in for attention. With 22 per cent of

the students in public schools and 40 per cent in the

colleges reported to be suffering from defective vision,

any improvement in lighting conditions becomes of

vital concern. To get just the right amount of light, to prevent glare, to work toward better spectral quality

in artificial light, all for the general purpose of pre- venting eye strain and enabling a pupil to perform his

work with maximum efficiency, is work worth doing.

Standards of school lighting are even now under revision as a project of the American Standards Association and bureau experts are cooperating in this. Recommended values for illumination of school interiors

will be given. Incidentally, some of the findings of

the bureau that are negative are of value. For in- stance, considerable study has been devoted to a new

kind of window glass which transmits beneficial ultraviolet rays. While a number of these new glasses are shown to transmit a reasonable amount of ultra-violet,

attention is called to the fact that two minutes ex- posure to direct sunlight is better than some 15 to 20

hours’ exposure at a distance of 16 feet from a north

window of a schoolroom, assuming that a minimum

beneficial intensity of rays is obtained. No great dif- ference would be made in the comparison if the light came through a south or west window unless the pupil

sat in the direct sunlight. Such facts need to be

known in order to pass intelligently on the usefulness

of such glass for schoolrooms and the wisdom of going

to extra expense in providing it. In that connection

the bureau has undertaken a study of radiators and

radiator valves and means of individual control of heat

in rooms in connection with the new Federal Government program. The results of that are not entirely

completed.

In connection with ventilation one must turn to the

Public Health Service in the Treasury Department,

the Bureau of Standards not having gone into that

subject extensively.

The degree with which the pupil can concentrate and

the wear and tear on the teacher’s nervous system are

also affected by the way in which sounds are controlled.

Happy, childish chatter may have attractiveness, but

when it is magnified and mingled with the sound of

marching feet and the mixture goes billowing down

the building corridors, attentiveness becomes dulled

and discipline relaxes. No doubt many persons can

cite instances of assembly rooms and lecture halls where reverberations take command and leave a speaker competing with his reflected self. There are ways of reducing noise that are comparatively inexpensive and efficient. Correct design of rooms and treat- ment Avith special sound-absorbing materials result in

mastery of the problem. One of the bureau scientists who has been studying sound tells an interesting fact.
MAY, 1932 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 321

In cases where especial attention is paid to the soundproofing between a room and a hall, often the benefit

is more than lost because the door is not closefitting, a gap of half an inch at the end of the door may admit more sound noises than the door keeps out. Sometimes in the construction of partitions a very inexpensive change will result in much less noise being trans- mitted from one room to another. Circular 396,

entitled “ Architectural Acoustics,” summarizes facts

that have been gathered over a period of years by

various investigators. Teachers of physics know that

the sound of the human voice is absorbed to a very

considerable extent by clothes at the same time that

the statements are reaching the hearers’ mental processes, and that the absorption effect per person is something like sixteen times as great as that of the

wooden chairs in which the listeners sit. Such effects have been measured at the bureau. In the publication

to which I have referred it is pointed out that a rec- tangular room has much better acoustical properties

than one whose walls and ceilings have curved sur- faces; and that outstanding authorities favor the use

of sound-absorbing materials, siich as special fiber

board and plasters, in that part of the auditorium

occupied by the audience, leaving the walls and ceiling

around the stage untreated.

Plumbing is another element of building construction that has come in for much attention at the bureau. Manufacturers are now making their products

to definite sizes, in definite qualities, and with definite means established by which the consumer may find

out Avhat he is getting as a result of agreements

reached under bureau auspices. For years the problem

of fixing upon the right sizes of pipes for given conditions has been under investigation. Unlike watersupply lines, plumbing stacks and drains seldom run

full. They contain a mixture of air, water, and waste

matter in varying proportions. To provide sizes that

will do the work properly but with no unnecessary

expense is a nice problem in calculation. If the system

does not contain the right balance of air and water

the seals in fixture traps may be sucked out, thus al- lowing sewer air to enter the toilet rooms, or back

pressure may be created which will cause an inundation and much mopj)ing-up work for the janitor.

Recommendations of use to designers and for plumbing codes are to be found in the publication Recommended Minimum Requirements for Plumbing. This

contains some comparatively simple diagrams with

which a great many architects and engineers are unfamiliar. They therefore may be prescribing systems

that are unnecessarily costly.

Probably more research on brickwork has been done

at the bureau than in any other laboratorjR Several

research associates from brick manufacturing associations have been stationed here during the past few

years, and the facilities for testing have been made

available to them. Bricks have been measured, they

have been boiled, they have been frozen, they have

WOODEN BUTTER TUBS

Sim2)lified Practice Recommendation R135-32, cov- ering wooden butter tubs, has been accorded the re- (juired degree of acceptance by the members, of the

industry, according to an official statement of the

Bureau of Standards.

been crushed flatwise, edgewise, and endwise. Mortars

has^e undergone equally rigorous treatment. Walls

have been constructed and have been destroyed in

the implacable jaws of the bureau’s 10,000,000-f)ound

testing machine. Other walls have been bathed for

hours in flames to determine their resistance to confla- grations. Those ugly white jiatches that sometimes

appear on brickwork after it has been built for some

time have been studied. Out of all this has come much definite knowledge about strength, weathering,

fire resistance, and other qualities. An ap^Jarently

sinq^le thing like the casual furrowing of a mortar

bed bv the ^joint of a workman’s trowel has been found

to reduce tJie strength of the wall materially below

that of one Avhere the mortar beds are left flat and

smooth. Numerous imblications have been issued

in connection with these researches and are available

at small exj^ense. The diabolical ingenuity with Avhich

Avater finds its way through solid walls, to the ruin

of jAlastering, is still under investigation.

A natural questioji to raise Avherever I have mentioned definite qualities and grades of materials is

Where can these be obtained and how can the j)urchasing authority be sure of what he is getting? This

angle has not been oATrlooked. The division of specifications in the bureau has compiled lists of manufacturers who are willing to certify that their jDroducts

conform to definite Federal sjDecifications or to certain

recognized commercial standards. Such lists are

aAuiilable to school or municijAal officials. Among

building materials they coA^er brick, building tile, lumber, builders’ hardware, cement, concrete materials,

electrical supplies, fire extinguishers, and heat insulating materials.

If nothing is sjjecified it is noAV ^Aossible to get

grade-marked lumber, so that anyone connected Avith

the school de^^artment can check uj) and see if the

lumber is uja to standard, and if one wants a check on whether the correct lumber is being standard, neither too expensive a grade nor too jjoor a grade, he can

obtain information from the Dejiartment of Agriculture or the National Committee on Wood Utilization

at the Department of Commerce.

Assuming that it is noAv time for the students to depart, they 2>ass through coi-ridors and stairways

Avhose dimensions and locations are jArescribed by exit requirements jArepared by committees to Avhich bureau

exjAerts haA^e contributed their knowledge. The doors

SAving outward, as they should under the jArovisions of

these exit requirements, so the XAUjAil and his felloAvs,

if they should get jammed uja at the doorway, ma}'^

not be unable to get the doors open against the pres- sure of the crowd. The pupil departs. The janitor

locks the doors Avith a lock no doubt conforming to Commercial Standard 22-30, Builders’ HardAvare, and

Ave take leave Avith the consciousness that in an unobtrusive Avay the bureau has contributed something to the sum total of the efficiency and agreeableness with

Avhich the day has passed.

This recommendation, AAdaicli A\^as 2 )ro 2 )Osed and deAcloped by the industry, jAi’ovides dimensions foi‘ the

inside diameters of the tojA and bottom, the inside vertical de^Ath, and the outside length of stave for the

10, 33, and 63/64 pound tubs. The recommendation

is to be considered effectiAe as of May 10, 1932.
322 COMMEECIAD STANDAKDS MONTHLY MAY. 1932 STANDARDIZING SIZES AND RATINGS BY MEANS OF PREFERRED NUMBERS

Most Practicable Basis for Standardization of Sizes and Ratings Is That of Preferred Numbers

By R. E. Hellmund ‘

The economic advantages of standardization are obvious and rather generally recognized, and yet

standardization as far as it relates to styles, colors,

etc., is frequently difficult to accomplish due to the

differences in tastes of both producer and user, to which differences it is, of course, necessary to make

some concessions.

On the other hand, standardization of sizes and

ratings is not subject to this same handicap, and if

is perfectly natural because of the investments made

by the various manufacturers for tools, stocks, etc. It would, therefore, seem that if there were some

general standardization scheme available to all before

any manufacture was started, many of these difficulties would be eliminated. The best and most practicable

system so far suggested for this purpose is that of

“ preferred numbers.” These numbers are simply cer- tain numbers arranged in so-called 5, 10, 20, and 40

Cos/ f^/gure%

the progress which is being made in this direction is disappointingly slow it is merely due to the lack of

proper methods of procedure and recognition of the

fundamental economic factors entering into it. The

principal difficulty arises from the fact that when

new types of articles are brought out, it is usually

impractical for the various manufacturers to get to- gether and establish certain standards before proceeding with manufacture, and as a consequence each of

them establishes sizes and ratings more or less independently of the others- If later a national standardization is attempted, such efforts are greatly handicapped by the clashing of individual interests, which

’ Chief Mectrical engineer, Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing

Co., Ihast Pittsburgh, Pa.

series to give uniform steps of 60, 25, 12, and 6 per

cent, respectively, between any two numbers of a

series. These series of numbers may be used for

dimensions, cubic contents, ratings of all kinds; in

fact, for an3dhing on which standardization is desirable. A more detailed account of the system and its application can be found elsewhere. (American

Machinist, Nov. 5, 1931; also Mech. Eng., April, 1931;

A. S. A. Bulletin, January, 1931.) With such a sys- tem of several series of numbers available, it remains,

of course, to decide which series is the best one to use for a given case. In this connection, certain fundamentals which enter into the choice of smaller or larger steps between standard sizes as offered by the

system have to be recognized and will be briefly dis- cussed in the following.
MAY, 1932 COMMERCIAL. STANDARDS MONTHLY 323

Let us assume that a consumer or user of an article

finds that a certain size or rating will fill his requirements. With but a limited number of standard sizes or ratings available, he probably will have to use a

size or rating next larger than the one he needs. This means that he has to pay for a certain excess of

material and labor. He may also find that on account

of using the larger size he will have to incur certain

increased consequential expenses ; for instance, if he

buys a motor larger than needed for his purpose, he

will have to put in a larger foundation and possibly

heavier wiring and control apparatus. It is therefore

evident that the availability of but a limited number

of sizes means definite increases in costs to the user ; in

fact, the smaller the number of sizes available or, in

other words, the larger the steps between standard

sizes, the greater the total of such increases in costs to the consumers at large.

There are, however, certain other costs which in- crease with the number of sizes manufactured. First

among these are expenses for development and tools, as each additional standard size usually involves

additional costs for these items. Furthermore, there

are certain costs which are incurred every time the

manufacturing set-up is changed from one size to another, and the total of which, therefore, increases

with the number of sizes. Again, there are expenses

for stock keeping in the warehouse of the manufacturer and his dealers, as well as for the stock and

spares kept at the plant of the user, which increase

with the number of sizes and ratings. Similar ex- penses are involved in certain routine and bookkeeping activities, in issuing x^^^blications, entering of

orders, and many other items. All of these costs must,

of course, be distributed over the total number of

articles sold, and they therefore enter in some way or other into the price paid by the users and thus are of

just as much importance to them as any other costs, although they frequently fail to appreciate this fact. The whole problem therefore resolves itself into one of finding the size of steps which will result in the

minimum total cost to the user. If certain basic factors, such as the activity of the article, development

costs, cost of stock keeping, etc., are known or can be

reasonably well estimated, it is possible to solve this

problem analytically. (A rather complete method and

discussion of doing this is given in Electrical Engineering, January, 1932.) Such an analysis, if carried

NEW ZEALAND CREATES BOARD TO AID

SECONDARY INDUSTRIES

The New Zealand Parliament has set up a Development of Industries Board, whose function it will be

to assist in stimulating secondary industries in New

Zealand. The board is composed of nine men, repre- senting technical societies, chambers of commerce,

trade associations, educational institutions, manufacturers, merchants, the unemployment board, and

the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.

It is designed to give sound, practical advice, particularly on questions of Government affecting industry. The Government will cooperate with the board

by extending appropriate assistance and placing its advisory resources at the disposal of industry.

In announcing the establishment of the board, the

Right Hod. G. W. Forbes, Prime Minister of New

through for any given set of conditions, leads to a curve which shows rather high cost values if the steps

chosen are too small; with increased size of steps the

cost decreases, but if the size of steps is increased too much the cost curve rises again. An example of such

a curve is given in the accompanying illustration.

With the information and data resulting from such an

analysis it is usually very easy to decide which series

of preferred numbers should be used. In making

such a decision, certain factors other than costs may

have to be given due consideration.

The utility of an article may be greatly increased

if it completely fills a given space ; for example, it may

be desired to use as large a kitchen range as possible

in an available space. In view of this, it is obvious

that a line of ranges consisting of many sizes will have

greater general utility than a line composed of fewer

sizes. As a result it may be advisable to use somewhat

smaller steps than indicated by the cost curve. Again,

in certain cases of machinery, operating efficiency or other performance factors may make it desirable to choose a number of steps larger than indicated by the

cost analysis. On the other hand, if a new type of

apparatus is being developed and there are uncertainties regarding the design and various commercial factors, it may be well to choose in the beginning steps

larger than indicated by the cost curve. Frequently,

especially when the necessary data for an analysis are not available, an initial line following the 5 series is the best choice until there is definite evidence that a change to the 10 series is absolutely necessary. Fortunately the entire system of preferred numbers is so arranged that a change from one series to another can

easily be made by introducing additional steps without a change in the initial sizes. In the space here available it has been impossible to

treat all the conditions which may be encountered in

the great variety of industrial products ; each case will

be somewhat different and therefore various methods

of attack will have to be used. The principal purpose

of this brief outline is to stimulate interest in this important subject of standardizing sizes and ratings.

The fundamentals mentioned are intended merely to

assist in a more rational solution of the problems. If

they are judiciously applied, together with an in- creased adoption of preferred numbers, marked

economies to both the consumer and the producer of

industrial products undoubtedly will result.

Zealand, outlined the steps that had been taken to stimulate secondary industries in New Zealand. He

stated that the primary industries had been developed with remarkable success and had been standardized to a large degree. The packing and the grading of food products were honest, and the purchaser

would rely on what he was buying.

He said further that “ any product we sell we should

keep at the highest standard, and we should see that

it is equally high all through. Secondary industries

must go hand in hand with primary industries. In

many of the manufacturing plants in New Zealand

the team spirit has been established and with it must come the concentration necessary on any particular

article for its production at the lowest price. That

is a duty which the public has a right to expect from

industries tliat liave received a measure of protection.”
324 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY MAY, 1932 STANDARDIZING AND INSPECTING FIELD-CROP PRODUCTS IN CALIFORNIA

By L. M. Jeffees ^

By the proidsions of the California field crops in- spection act the director of agriculture is authorized

to establish grading standards and to provide an in- spection service. The standards established under this

laiv are for inspection purposes only and do not in any

way restrict the sale, shipment, or use of any of the

commodities, regardless of the quality or conditions.

The law is not compulsory in any sense and the use

of these standards and the inspection service is entirely optional.

All of the grading standards ofiicially applicable to California field crop products are the same as the

Federal standards. Those standards established for corn, wheat, oats, rye, barley, and grain sorghums are

the same as established by the United States Government under the provisions of the United States grain

standards act. This law, from a Federal standpoint,

is compulsoiy, and no other grading standards for

these grains can be used in interstate or foreign commerce.

Optional Federal standards have been established

for hay, beans, and rice and by promulgation of the

director of agriculture have been made the official grading standards for California. The use of all of

these grading standards by State, commercial organizations, or private inspectors is dependent upon a

license issued by the United States Department of

Agriculture. Therefore, all of the inspectors employed by the California Department of Agriculture

are licensed by the Federal Department of Agriculture. The factors of condition and quality which are considered in the establishment of these grading standards and serve to fix the grade of the particular

lot of the commodity under consideration are the same

factors which apply practically in the minds of producer and consumer in establishing the value of the

commodity. The presence of extraneous or foreign

material and the prevalence of damaged portion of

the commodity is sure to reduce the actual value of

the same. In the marketing of these commodities on the basis

of grading standards and through the use of official inspection certificates, the presence of these damagingfactors is measured on a definite basis, Avhile in the

all too prevalent method of bartering or selling on

an “ as is ” basis these same factors are measured with

a variable standard.

The dejiartment of agriculture has established in- spection offices and employed capable inspectors for

the purpose of rendering an inspection service on the

field crops products of California. Official inspection

of the grain can be secured from State offices at Sacramento, Stockton, San Francisco, and Vallejo.

Hay inspection is available in the Imperial Valley,

Antelope Valley, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and

through the Sacramento and Stockton offices for the area in the central part of the State. Bean inspection

certificates may be secured from Los Angeles, Stock1 Chief, bureau of field crops, department of agriculture, State of

California,

ton, San Francisco, and Sacramento. Rice inspection

is available at Sacramento and San Francisco.

It is impossible, of course, to give an inspection

service on hay except by personal examination of the

particular lot. On the other commodities it is possible to submit representative samples to the respective offices and secure from them what is called a sample inspection certificate. This certificate indicates the grade on the sample

as submitted. Official inspection certificates are se- cured by having the particular lot sampled by an employee of the department. In this case the grade designated on the certificate represents the grade of the

lot.The question might arise : Why do we have this

Federal and State activity in connection with the marketing of our agricultural products? It is a proper

question and perhaps conditions in some of the local communities Avill offer the answer. While farming has often been described as the ideal

occupation because of the independence and health,

yet it is probable that most people want to add a third rather important item, and that is profits. A

farmer may be producing a commodity which finds

the ultimate consumer hundreds or even thousands of

miles away from the home ranch.

Farmers are someAvhat dependent u])on their local buyer or medium of distribution for information as to market conditions. Their commodity is weighed

or measured on a basis Avith which they are familiar

and Avhich is uniform throughout the State and the

United States. Their product may be superior or

inferior as compared Avith the crop marketed by a neighbor. If they are attending to the details in

order to be certain that they are getting proper re- ttirns from their crop they should Icnow the basis

u])on Avhich the value of their commodity is fixed. The State de|)artment of agriculture and the

Federal Department of Agricidture have established

standards and maintain inspection services as the re- sult of hiAvs Avhich have been passed in order that

farmers may haA'e a disinterested official agency to examine their commodity and establish the grade or

relatiA'e A^alue thereof on the basis of standards which

are definite and used throughout the Nation. This is a method AAdiich is in no Avay different from our national money system, and it is equally essential to the

proper marketing of commodities.

Fi’om an agricultural standpoint California can not

exist to itself. It must depend upon the consuming

Iiopulation of the United States and of the world to take the products of its soil. In order to put these

commodities in the world’s markets on a competitive

basis they must be marketed on a standardized basis. It has been clearly demonstrated that qualitv must be

maintained and to do this a penalty must be exacted

from the groAver Avho attempts to put on the market

a low-quality product. Of the field crop products

there are being shipped from the State alfalfa hay,

rice, beans, barley, and seeds. In these commodities

the State is competing with other producing areas
MAY, in.S2 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 325

on the basis of quality. It is quite ti'ue that there is imported into the State practically as much wheat as

is grown in California and it is worth while to remember that this imported Avheat is sold to Californians

upon a definite grade basis. A very sincere Avheat grower once said to us in no uncertain terms that he “ was not going to pay the State

a fee to have them tell him how mucli dirt Avas in his

wheat.” Sometimes it is the truth that hurts, and in

this particular case it did hurt his pride to learn that

his Avheat contained oati‘ 7 per cent of foreign material

for which he would not be paid Avhen selling his Avheat on a quality basis. Unfortunately the average price

is too prevalent in the marketing of wheat and barley.

The same applies to a certain extent to all of the held

crop products. If the grain gix)Aver of California is going to market his commodity in an intelligent Avay

he must sell on a quality basis Avhich is the same basis on which the value is ultimately determined in the

market, and he must have dehnite market news information. Without a proper grading system the market

price can not be properly and dehnitely established.

and Avithout the same knoAvledge as to grade being

placed before the seller as is noAv placed in the hands

of the buyer their commodity can not be marketed to the hnancial advantage of the groAver.

The held crop products of California are important.

The Avealth produced thereby is tremendous. It is necessary to recognize that there is a variation in

quality. This A*ariation in quality inhuences the re- turns to the groAA^er. The application of dehnite grading standards and the marketing of these commodities on a dehnite grade basis, Avith the value of each grade

established through open market competition, Avould

do much to create better marketing conditions and re- turn a premium to the producer of quality goods,

Avhereas at tlie present time too heavj^ a tonnage is being sold on the basis of ai'erage price. The groAA’ers.

dealers and consumers of the held crop products have

an official standardization and inspection service available. The use of this serAUce is dependent upon the

interested parties. The value of the service increases

as there is an increase in the use of the service.

ORIGINAL METHODS USED IN HOMEIMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGNS

Unique methods are being employed in A^arious

cities throughout the country to initiate immediate

home improA’ements, according to reports received b}^

the committee on reconditioning, remodeling, and

modernizing of the Presidents’ Conference on Home

Building and Home OAvnership. At the present time

active modernizing campaigns are in operation in 92

cities and planned for 142 others. It is estimated that

by the end of June the total expenditures for labor

and materials resulting from these campaigns will

amount to approximately $25,000,000.

Tavo outstanding examples of original and energetic

campaigns are being carried on in Beaumont, Tex.,

and Buffalo, N. Y. In the former city which has a population around 60,000, the campaign is under the

supei’A’ision of an organization of }mung business men.

It is organized on military lines, the city being divided

into northern and southern sectors, each having an

“ army.” The commander in chief of both “ armies ”

is general chairman of the campaign, Avith each of the

“ armies ” liaAung its full quota of officers and privates

recruited by Amluntary enlistment. Many of the

officers and privates of the “ armies ” are Avomen.

Each Avorker was given a schedule of prices of more

than 100 jobs Avhich Avas irsed as a guide Avhen furnishing estimates on jobs. The cards covering work

obtained each day are passed to the lieutenants Avho in

turn deliver them to their captains. They are then

passed along to each of the other officers and finally

reach headquarters Avhere they are turned over to tlie Federal employment bureau. The results from the

Beaumont campaign have been gratifying, more than

400 odd jobs having been deA’eloped.

In Buffalo, the home-improA^ement campaign has

been under the supervision of the American Legion

and has been carried on by means of a house-to-house

caiiAMSs. Pledges receUed have already reached a to- tal of more than $2,000,000. A folloAV-up cainpaign

to check up on these pledges Avas conducted by a force

of men composed of unemployed salesmen Avorking

117482—32 2

under the direction of three business executives Avho

gave their full time Avithout remuneration. At the

end of three Aveeks, work under way resulting from

this campaign amounted to more than $600,000, improvements including carpentr}^ work, painting, buikling of driveways, plumbing installations, etc. The committee of reconditioning, remodeling, and

modernizing was established in the Department of

Commerce for the purpose of assisting home OAvners,

local organizations, and others interested in home

improA^ements through educational Avork. It Avill furnish information on request in connection Avith modernizing campaigns now being conducted in various

cities, together with suggested jiublicity material.

RECOMMENDATION ON WHEELBARROWS

RECEIVES APPROVAL OF INDUSTRY

The revised simplified practice recommendation

coATring AvheelbarroAvs, originally proposed by industi\y in 1928 and subsequent l}'^ approved the folloAving year, has receiA’'ed the retpured degree of acceptance

from all interests in the industiy. The revision program is knoAvn as simplified pracfice recommendation

R105-32, and has been in effect since April 1, 1932.

It was decided by the members of the industry at the revision meeting that some uniform system for

designating the AvheelbarroAA's contained in the simplihcation program be drafted and made a part of the

i-ecommendation. By designation is meant the use of

distinctive terminology for the same size and type of

AvheelbarroAV, Avhich Avhen adopted by the entire trade,

Avould eliminate much confusion of the customer.

Accordingly, it Avas decided that the AvheelbarroAvs

contained in tlie recommendation should be termed

SI. S2, etc., in order of their appearance in the simplified list. Forty-one sizes and tyiies of AvheelbarroAA's AA'ere listed in the original simplified jiractice recommendation. In the revised ])rogram this number Avas further reduced to 27.
326 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY MAT, 1932 COMMUNICATION OF STANDARD TIME SIGNALS

By Lieut. Maecy M. Dupr]!;, United States Navy (in charge of Naval Observatory time service)

The accepted standard of time measurement is the

period of the earth’s rotation on its axis. This rota- tion causes the stars to appear to cross the sky from

east to west in the same manner as the sun. If a per- son located on the earth’s equator measured the time

interval between two successive passages overhead of

a very distant star, he would in that manner measure

the period of the earth’s rotation. If he then made

similar measurements on the sun instead of a star, he

would obtain a result about four minutes longer than

before. This is because of the earth’s orbital motion

around the sun, which continuously changes the apparent place of the sun among the stars. While the

earth is rotating on its own axis, the sun appears to move slowlj^ to tlie east among the stars, so that the

earth must rotate through more than 360° in order

to bring the sun overhead again. Even if the earth

did not rotate at all on its own axis, the sun would

journey around it. The stars are not within the

rise and set once during the year because of the

earth’s orbit. They are so far distant that their apparent positions are only very slightly affected by the

earth’s orbital motion. The positions of the stars are commonly reckoned from a point in the sky known as the vernal equinox. That point moves very slowly

among the stars. The period of the earth’s rotation

measured with respect to the vernal equinox is called a

sidereal day, although it might better be named an apparent equinoctial day. The period measured with re- spect to the sun is called an apparent solar day. Unfortunately the sjieed with which both the sun and ver- nal equinox move among the stars is not uniform, as a

result of which the apparent solar and sidereal days

are of variable length. In order to overcome . this

objection, mean time has been devised. Mean solar

time, which is universallj^ used in ordinary life, is sometimes ahead of and sometimes behind apparent

solar time, but on the average it is the same. The

difference between these two kinds of time is called

the equation of time. Its maximum value is a little over 16 minutes. The difference between mean

equinoctial and apparent equinoctial or sidereal time

is called nutation. Its greatest value is only a little over a second, and its greatest daily change is a little more than a hundredth of a second. On account of

the fact that this difference is so small, sidereal time

has generally been used by astronomers. In recent years a few observatories, including the Naval Observatoi’3q have begun to employ mean equinoctial time in

computing the rates of precision clocks. Standard time. —Since the sun does not cross the

meridian in different parts of the world simultaneously, it is evident that the various parts of the world

have different solar times. In order to reduce confusion, standard time zones have been created. All

the points in each zone use one uniform time which is generally different from their local times by not much

over half an hour, and in some places is almost the same. In general the times of these zones differ from

Greenwich, or zero meridian time, by some whole number of hours. In the continental United States there

are four time zones. Eastern standard time is the

local time of the seventy-fifth meridian and 5 hours

less advanced than Greenwich time, central standard

time is the local time of the ninetieth meridian and 6

hours less advanced than Greenwich time, mountain

standard time is the local time of the one hundred and

fifth meridian and 7 hours less advanced than Greenwich time, and Pacific standard time is the local time

of the one hundred and twentieth meridian and 8 hours less advanced than Greenwich time. The Naval

Observatory is thus able to furnish one time signal

which will provide time for all zones. The signal sent out at 3 hours, Greenwich time, serves as a 10 p. m.

signal in the eastern zone, a 9 p. m. signal in the central zone, an 8 p. m. signal in the mountain zone, and

as a 7 p. m. signal in the western zone. Since the

object of the time zones is mainly one of convenience,

the boundaries between the zones have been placed

where they will be the source of the least inconvenience, rather than along exact meridians. For instance,

if the lines were straight the people in one corner of

a small district might be using different time from

their neighbors, and the railroad trains might have to make time changes at inconvenient points rather than

at terminals. The Interstate Commerce Commission

holds hearings concerning the placing of these division lines, and all inquiries on the subject should be

addressed to that commission. The Hydrographic

Office, United States Navy, sells a map showing the

time zones of the world. The map is No. 5192, and the

price is 50 cents. Time determination.-—For the purpose of time determination the Naval Observatory uses small telescopes

known as transit telescopes. These are mounted with

great rigidity and pivoted so that they can be rotated

from north to south, but not to the east or west. Thus, an astronomical object is visible to such a telescope

only when it is near the celestial meridian ; that is, on

a line in the sky which passes through the zenith and

the north and south points. The sidereal time at which

each star will cross the meridian is known by previous

calculations. Stars are selected which cross the meridian near the zenith at Washington, and the positions

of which are closely known. The observer operates a micrometer apparatus which causes interruptions in an electric circuit as the star passes certain points in

the field. The interruptions are recorded graphically

by an instrument known as a chronograph on the same

sheet with records of the standard clock ticks. By

making measurements on this sheet and applying

certain corrections for several errors of the telescope,

it is possible to determine the time, according to the

clock, when the stars cross the meridian. The differ- ence between the times at which the stars are predicted

to cross the meridian and the time at which they are observed to cross, according to the clock, indicates the

error of the clock. In order to maintain a continuous

record of the standard clock corrections, on every clear night, a list of stars is observed on one or more tele- scopes at the Naval Observatory.

Standard clocks. —The standard clocks at the Naval

Observatory are rated to sidereal time. They are maintained in a vault under constant temperature and
MAY, if)32 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 327

» air pressure. At present a new clock vault is under

construction, which will accommodate seven clocks. 4 These clocks are specially manufactured for precision ^ purposes. Since it is desired to leave them undisturbed, they are never reset or interfered with in any

manner, except as necessitated for repairs. The ac-

' tual rates of such clocks are not imjDortant, so long

I as they are constant, or so long as they change slowly

i enough to be checked by astronomical observations.

! The short period variations in the rates of the pres- ent standard clocks are such that on the average the

clock rates may be predicted within about a hundredth

of a second per day. Until recently all the standard

clocks at the Naval Observatory were made by the

firm of Riefler in Germany. That firm had long en- joyed the highest reputation as a maker of precision

\ timepieces. During the last few years considerable

research has been conducted by a number of investigators with the purpose of devising improved clocks.

; Conspicuous among the results of this work is the

' Shortt clock, made by an English firm, and the quartz

clocks which depend on the oscillation of quartz crysL tals for their time standards. As rapidly as conditions permit, the Naval Observatory is increasing its

; number of standard clocks, by the addition of modern

equipment.

Time signals.—Although sidereal time is convenient for use in rating the standard clocks, it is not suit-

; able for the purposes of the general public. The

' mechanism for the transmission of time signals is

[ therefore rated to mean solar time. Immediately be-

> fore time signals are sent out, the error of the trans- mission apparatus is determined by comparison with

?

the standard clocks, and the proper corrections are made. In making the comparisons an electric chronof graph is used permitting measurements to a small

1 fraction of a second. Allowance is made for the

I continuously changing difference between sidereal and

f, solar time, and also for the error of the standard

clock. The transmission of signals always begins at

j 55 minutes 0 seconds of some hour and continues for

- five minutes. Signals are transmitted on every sec- ond during that time, except that there is no signal on the twenty-ninth second of any minute, nor on

certain seconds at the ends of the minutes, as shown

in the following

j ^

Minute

Second

50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60

55

56

5758

59

11

11

1

1

1 1

1

1

11

1

1

11

11

' The dashes in the above indicate seconds on which

S signals are transmitted. The seconds marked “ 60 ”

1 ; are the zero seconds of the following minutes. All

' seconds from 0 to 50, inclusive, are transmitted except

the twenty-ninth second, as explained above. The

1 dash on the beginning of the hour (shown as 59 minutes 60 seconds above) is much longer than the others.

In all cases the beginnings of the dashes indicate the

'

. beginnings of the seconds, and the ends of the dashes

' are without significance. It will be noted that the

q < number of dashes sounded in the group at the end of

any minute indicates the number of minutes of the

signal yet to be sent. During the transmission of the

signal an automatic record is made at the observatoinq

showing the signal ticks at the observatory, the ticks

of one of the standard clocks, and the signal as re- ceived by radio back from the sending station.

Signed Effective October 1, 1931, the

regular hours of time signal transmission are as fol- lows ;

Greenwich civil time Eastern standard (seventy-fifth meridian) time

23h55“to 0i>0“

2 55 to 3 0

4 55 to 5 0

7 55 to 8 0

16 55 to 17 0 20 55 to 21 0

6.55 p. m. to 7 p. m.

9.55 p. m. to 10 p. m.

11.55 p.m. to midnight.

2.55 a. m. to 3 a. m.

11.55 a. m. to noon.

3.55 p. m. to 4 p. m.

During the transmission of the signals the radio

stations listed below are automatically controlled by

the Naval Observatory transmission apparatus. In

the case of Arlington and Annapolis the control is by

land wire, and in the case of San Francisco tlie control

is by radio. All frequencies are not operated on each

signal, but only as shown under the heading “ Hours

of ending of signals.”

Hours of end

Station Call Fre- quency Wave

length Power ing of signals (Greenwich

civil time)

kc m kw

113 2,655 5 3 8 17 690 435 1 3 17 Navy yard, Washington; Ar- 4,015 74.9 1 5 8 17 NAA. 4,205 8,410

71.3 10 3 17

35.7 10 3 8 17

12, 615 23.8 10 3 17

16, 820 17.8 15 17 21 A.nnapoIis, Md NSS.. / 17.8

1 8,030

16, 85437.4

350 3 5 8 17 21

1 0

f 42.8 7,009 100 3 8 17 66 4.545 40 3 8 17 San Francisco, Calif NPG. 1 108 2, 77834.9

2 3 8 17

1 8,590 25 8

ll2, 885 2.3.3 5 3 17

kc=kilocycles. m=meters. kw=kilowatts.

All the frequencies listed above are continuous waves, except NAA G90 kc, which

is modulated. In case of failure to transmit the signals on any

hour, or in case the transmission is garbled, an effort will be made to send them out on the hour next fol- lowing. In addition to the stations listed above several naval radio stations send out time signals which

are not directly controlled by the Naval Observatoiy.

The 17.8 kc signal sent via Annapolis is very powerful, but owing to its low frequency (long wave length)

special apparatus is required for its reception. The

113 kc Arlington signal is fairly strong and with a

first-class receiving set may be beard in most parts of

the United States. The 690 kc signal is in the radiophone broadcast band, but owing to its low power it

is not satisfactory for reception, except near Washington. The high-frequency signals (4,015 kc or greater) may be received with simple short-wave equipment and may be heard at great distances. Owing to the skip distance of the higher frequencies, some of

them are not receivable at points within the region

of the skip, but there is practically no place where some of these frequencies may not be received. The

noon signal is distributed b,y telegraph into almost all the cities and towns in the United States. The West-
328 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY MAY, 1932 em Union Telegraph Co. has entered extensively into I the distribution of Naval Observatory time signals on

a commercial basis. Errors of signals. —During the transmission of each

signal automatic chronographic records are made at the Naval Observatory which show both the time at which the signal leaves the observatoi-y and the time

of its emission from the radio stations themselves.

Since apparatus is not available to record all the fre- quencies on which the signal is transmitted, some of

them are omitted. The 17.8 and 113 kc frequencies

are recorded on all signals and in addition one or more of the higli frequencies. By measuring up these

records it is possible to determine the times of actual

emission according to the standard clock. The cor- rections to the standard clock are then recomputed,

using star sights both before and after the signals.

These computations indicate that the average error

of the time signals, as sent from Arlington, is a little less than three hundredths of a second. The 17.8 kc

Annapolis signals lag approximately a couple of hundredths of a second behind Arlington, and San Francisco lags still more. Comparisons between time signals sent out by several different national observatories

generally indicate errors of greater magnitude than

those comjnited by each observatory from its own data.

The cause of these discrepancies is not entirely understood. Between America and Europe there is evidently considerable variation between winter and summer, and a study of the differences between Washington and Greenwich has given some indication of con- nection with meteorological conditions. For the purpose of studying these questions the Naval Observatory regularly records time signals from foreign

observatories.

Time-signal correction sheets. —For ordinary commercial and navigating purposes the time signals are

sufficiently accurate as issued. However, there are many scientific and technical uses of the time signals

which require accuracy to the hundredth of a second.

Unfortunately, methods of transmitting with that

degree of precision have not yet been perfected. In

order to meet the needs of such work, the Naval Observatory distributes time-signal correction sheets

without charge to those who request them. Two kinds

of corrections are issued. The regular correction

sheets give the standard mean-time corrections to all signals, as actually emitted by radio, and also the

Washington local sidereal times of the signals. They

also give the nutation, so that persons who so desire

may convert the sidereal, or apparent equinoctial time,

to mean equinoctial time. These sheets are issued to cover periods of approximated one week at a time.

After the end of any period there is a delay of several

days in sending out the corrections, because it is neces- sary to take additional star sights, to make the neces- sary computations, and to mimeograph and mail the

sheets. In order to meet the needs of those who re- quire more rapid service, the Naval Observatory also

SINGLETREES, DOUBLETREES, AND NECK

YOKES

Simplified Practice Recommendation R134—32, cov- ering singletrees, doubletrees, and neck 3mkes has been

accorded the required degree of acceptance by industiy, and will be considered effective as of April 1,

sends out immediate corrections. These do not give

the times of tlie signals on an absolute basis, but only

their times of emission according to one of the standard clocks. Since the standard clocks are never reset, they are generally considerably in error, and the immediate corrections are consequently useless for work

requiring a knowledge of the absolute times of the

signals. The}^ are very useful, however, in woi'k in- volving only rates ; that is, when it is sufficient to know

the time intervals between successive signals. The

immediate corrections are issued three times weekly,

and give data for signals up to and including those

transmitted on the date of issue. In doing work re- quiring the use of either type of corrections, one important precaution must be observed. When tuning

in the radio time signals, especially when automatic

recorders are used, great care must be exercised to insure reception of the beginning of the signal on each

second. Apparentl}^ the 17.8 kc Annapolis signals

build up in strength each time the circuit is keyed,

the process requiring several hundredths of a second.

If the signals are faintly received, the recorder may

operate with considerable delay. The obvious remedy

is to increase the amplification, so as to insure operation at the beginning of each signal. In the case of

the high-frequency or short-wave signals, a different

difficulty exists. Although the signals on each second

begin full strength, there is evidently a slight shift of

frequenc^^ taking place each time the circuit is keyed.

A sharply tuned receiver may appear to receive the

signals perfectly, when, as a matter of fact, it is out

of tune with the beginnings of all the signals, and

consequent!}^ operating with a delay of several hundredths of a second.

Use of time signals. —The Naval Observatoi'y time

signals were first sent out in order that navigators

might check their chronometers before leaving harbor.

They have since become the basis of the standard time

used in the United States, and are employed generally

by navigators at sea in checking chronometers. The

Naval Observatory has no special agreement with any

telegraph company, but furnishes time signals free

to all firms and individuals who provide wires for the

puq^ose to the transmitting room. Many special uses of the signals have arisen. These include longitude

determination for precise surveying and map making,

and gravity determination by means of which minerals

and oil are located, and geodetic questions are investigated. Radio monitoring stations use the signals in

checking the frequencies of transmitting stations,

while seismologists use them in coordinating earthquake records. In fact, since time is one of the dimensions of the physical universe, it is obvious that an ac- curate knowledge of time is generally necessary to the

investigation of physical problems. The Naval

Observatory is lending aid to the meeting of many of

these needs, and at the same time is continuing to supply time for navigation and commerce.

1932, according to official announcement made by the

Bureau of Standards.

This simplification recommendation, which is con- cerned with sizes and types of these commodities, was

proposed and formulated by industry in the latter part of 1931, in accordance Avith the procedure devel1 oped under the auspices of the Bureau of Standards.
-MAY, 1932 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 329

SCREW-THREAD STANDARDIZATION

Program of National Screw Thread Commission Widely Adopted by Manufacturing Industry

By H. AV. Beaece, Secretary, Nati.onal Screw Thread Commission

During the past 12 }Tars the National Screw Thread

Commission (N. S. T. C.)? with the full cooperation

of national engineering societies and of industiw, has

been engaged in the standardization of screw threads.

This work has necessaril}^ carried ivith it a corre- sponding standardization of threading and gaging

equipment.

It will be interesting to inquire as to the effect this

standardization program has had upon those branches

of industry which manufacture and use screw threads.

A jiartial answer to this inquiry may be had from an

analysis of the results of a screw-thread survey that

is just now nearing completion. This survey, sponsored by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and supported by manufacturers and users of screw threads, has had the cooperation of the National

Screw Thread Commission and the Bureau of Standards.

In an inquiry of this nature the first question ivould

naturally be. To what extent is an attempt being made

by manufacturers to produce, threaded products to the

standards set up b}' the commission ? and the second

question. To what extent is this attempt successful ? In answer to the first question it may be said that,

of the 128 manufacturers from whom samples were

collected and of whom 116 gave a direct answer to the

question, 58 per cent reported that they are working

100 per cent to the N. S. T. C. standard, an '‘American

standard,” approved by the American Standards Association, 10 iier cent reported that they are making

from 50 to 99 per cent of their product to the N. S. T. C. standard. This leaves 32 per cent of those re- porting on this (juestion as making less than 50 per

cent to the N. S. T. C. standard.

In this same group of 116 manufacturers definitely

reporting on the question 20 per ccTit stated that they

are working to the old United States standard, and

11 per cent rejiorted that they are making from 50

to 99 per cent of their product to the United States

standard.

The answer to the second question, that is. To what

extent are the manufacturers’ attempts successful ? can

be obtained only b}^ a careful measurement of the more than 7,000 sample screws, bolts, and nuts col- lected from the 128 manufacturers.

From an analysis of the measurements of one size

it appears that 49 per cent of the screws and bolts

manufactured to comply Avith a given class of fit are

actually equal or superior to that class, and that only

about 19 per cent of those intended to be within one

of the regular classes are actually not within any of

the regular classes. Furtliermore, it is found that 47

BRICK PRODUCERS ADOPT NEW RULES

Included in the grading rules recently adopted by the

American Face Brick Association and the Face Brick

Dealers’ Association, are 10 simple tests which makes it easy for the users to determine wliether the brick they

use are in the standard, substandard, or cull grades.

per cent of those siqiposedly made to the United States

standard are actually within the limits of the N. S. T. C., class 2. The test of nuts is not }^et complete, but measure- ments so far made indicate that results on the nuts

Avill not dift'er widely from those on the screws and

bolts. At the conclusion of the investigation a detailed

report will be issued b}'^ R. E. Flanders, chairman of

the sectional committee on standardization and unification of screw threads.

Some persons may be surprised or disappointed

that progress in the adoption and successful production of standard screw threads has not been even more

rapid. But it should be appreciated that 12 years

is a relatively short time for an entire industry to progress from a condition of nonstandardization and

noninterchangeability to one of complete standardization and complete interchangeability.

In this connection it must be appreciated that

standardization of threading equipment, gaging equipment, and an adequate system of inspection are prerequisites of complete standardization of the product.

It is too much to expect that all threading equipment

taps, dies, gages, etc.—will be scrapped in order to put into immediate production a new standard.

Such a step is neither economical nor necessary,

since threading equipment tools and gages wear out with normal use and have to be replaced. The normal

and economical procedure is to replace worn-out, obsolete, nonstandard equipment Avith standard equipment that may reasonably be expected to produce a standard product if properly used under adequate

supervision.

Much progress in this Avork of necessary rejilacement has already been made. Die head and chaser

manufacturers haA^e adopted and are now turning out

a complete standard line ; tap and die manufacturers

have materially improved the accuracy of their products; and manufacturers of threaded Avork are giving

increased attention to threading tools and gages, and

to production inspection.

There is an increasing acceptance of the fact that

it is more economical to jirevent the manufacture of

defective material b_y adequate supervision of equipment, tools, and gages used in production than to reject defective material after manufacture.

In AueAv of the advance ah-ead}^ made toAvard the

goal of complete standardization of screAv threads it may confidently be expected that this advance will

continue at an increasing rate as obsolete tools and

gages are still further replaced.

PreAdous to this time there have been no generally

accepted methods for determining the different grades

of face brick. Tlie rules give tlie alloAvable variations

from standard sizes, include ])rovisious concerning

color and state the size and number of chij)s permitteci

off the corners and edges.
330 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY MAT, 1932 SIGNIFICANCE OF GRADE-MARKING OF LUMBER IN BOSTON

By Stuaet Huckins ^

A significant forward step in the history of the

lumber business was taken by the building commissioner of the city of Boston, Mass., when on December 1, 1931, he promulgated the following ruling : ^ On and after April 1, 1932, all lumber (beams, boards,

dimensions, joists, plank, posts, etc.) used for load-carrying purposes shall bear the official grade mark of the association under whose rules the lumber was manufactured and graded,

or equivalent identification acceptable to the building

commissioner.

Further than this, the

building commissioner

has stipulated in the same

bulletin the lowest grade

of lumber which can be

used for various construction purposes and functions. This action is the cul- mination of a series of

conferences between the

building commissioner and

representatives of local

retail lumber dealers, the

purpose of which is to standardize and safeguard

the qualities and performance of lumber for struc- tural use. The rulings of the

commissioner will prove

of benefit to the public,

to contractors, architects,

lumber dealers, owners

of property, and to offi- cials charged with the

responsibility of maintaining proper standards

in the construction industry. The public will gain

in so far as the requirement of grade marking

will facilitate the administration of building code

practice and procedure.

It will benefit contractors and dealers in that their

estimates will necessarily

be jiredicated upon identical qualitative specifications in so far as struc- tural lumber is concerned,

for the reason that qualities and size must be shown on

the plans for each building project.

These grades and sizes of course, can not be less than

the minimum requirements specified in the commissioner’s rulings of December 1, and through grade mark1 The George McQuesten Co., of East Boston, Mass. ; abstracted from

his article in The Purchasing Agent.

^ An announcement of this action appeared in the April, 1932, Commercial Standards Monthly, in connection with the stor.v on the Thirty-eighth Annual Convention of the Northeastern Retail Lumbermen’s Association, entitled “ Grade-Marked Lumber Activities Reviewed

by Lumbermen,”

ing their quality will be susceptible of accurate identifi- cation on the job. Moreover, these objective limitations of quality, clearly identified by expert graders,

will protect the property owner against inferior quality

and safeguard the integrity of his investment.

It is probable that the progressive action of the

building commissioner of Boston will be followed by

other cities and towns of New England and thus be- come of sectional rather than of local importance.

In any event, it is not

unlikely that architects

and builders recognizing

the advantages of gradmarked lumber will re- quire such identification

for construction outside of

Boston even though not

required by law.

Most of the lumber hereafter purchased, except

for remanufacture, by

greater Boston yards will

be grade marked at the

mill by representatives of

the regional manufacturing associations or other

properly qualified associations acceptable to the

building commissioner.

For material now in stock

not so marked, and for material hereafter remanufactured, it has been neces- sary to set up machinery

for a local grade-marking

service under adequate

supervision to maintain

proper standards in strict conformity to the grading

rules of the regional associations.

Briefly outlined, the lo- cal grade-marking service

will be under the general

supervision of the Boston

chapter of the Northeastern Eetail Lumbermen’s

Association. A qualified

supervisor of inspection

has been selected by a committee of the association and it will be the duty of the chief inspector to instruct and examine retail yard inspectors in the

standards and methods of grading lumber for struc- tural purposes and to license applicants who qualify.

Each yard inspector who passes the necessary examination will be given a license card, indorsed by the

chairman of the committee and by the supervisor of

inspection, and will be assigned a license number which

must appear on every piece of lumber which he marks

as a means of identification.

In recognition of the requirements in the

Boston building code, effective April 1, 1932,

that all load-bearing members of lumber or timber shall bear the official gTade mark of

lumber manufacturers’ associations for each

species affected and in accordance with American Lumber Standards, and that grades are

altered when remanufacture takes place, the

Southern Pine Association has offered to ex- tend, in cooperation with the Boston lumber

dealers, its grading and grade-marking supervision over Southern yellow pine in Boston

yards under the following conditions; (1) The

Southern Pine Association, through an efficient inspector, will give regular monthly inspections at retail yards at least as thorough as that given at the mills subscribing to the

Southern Pine Association; (2) such Southern Pine Association inspector will give competent instruction to the graders employed by

the dealers, and conduct frequent examinations

of their work; (3) the retail lumber dealers

agree to employ such competent inspectors as meet the approval of the Southern Pine Association inspector, and abide by the rules and

regulations for grading and inspecting Southern yellow pine as adopted by the Southern

Pine Association; (4) whereupon the Southern Pine Association will permit the official grade marking by such retail graders with

marks and methods approved by the Southern

Pine Association, and bearing the standard

grade names and identification marks; and

(5) the Boston dealers will pay to the Southern Pine Association an amount equal to the

regTilar subscription fee of the Southern Pine

Association.
MAY, 1932 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 331

It will be the further duty of the chief inspector to

call fi’equently at yards subscribing to this service for

the purpose of checking up and advising upon the

work of his deputized surveyors. In the event that

any licensed inspector is found to be inaccurate in his

grade marking, he will be warned b.y the supervisor

and, if such errors should be found to persist, his

license will be revoked by the committee in charge. As

a further check, the chief inspector must qualify

before the building commissioner and an inspector

representing the association under whose rules the

lumber was manufactured and graded, and his woi’k

thereafter will be subject to the commissioner’s

approval.

AMERICAN STANDARDS ASSOCIATION

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

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

Noise measurement.—The initiation of a project on

noise measurement, under the procedure of the association, has been approved by the standards council.

The Acoustical Society of America has been designated sponsor for the project. It is expected that a

sectional committee to work under the procedure of

the association will be organized at an early date. Classification and designation of surface qualities. —

The standards council of the association has decided

that a sectional committee on classification and designation of surface qualities ^ should be organized to undertake work on a project covering this subject.

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers and

the Society of Automotive Engineers have been appointed sponsors for the project.

The initiation of the project is the result of a request

submitted to the association by the American Society

of Mechanical Engineers to have work undertaken on

standard finishes of machined surfaces. The special

committee to which the request was submitted for in- vestigation and recommendation to ASA found an immediate need existing for the standardization of

classification and designation of surface qualities of

machined metal surfaces and ground metal surfaces.

It therefore recommended that the development of

standards in this field be given priority by the sec- tional committee to be organized. The suggestion was

made, in the report, that this important division of

the work might be formulated as the “ classification

of machined or ground surfaces according to quality

of finish ” and that there be developed in this respect

(a) standards of quality of finish for machined sur-

^ For those interested in this subject attention is invited to Standards for Machined Surfaces, by Robert Corey Deale, of Stevenson,

.Iordan & Harrison, which appeared in the February, 1932, CommekciAt, Standards Monthly.

faces, (fb) standards of quality of finish for ground

surfaces, (c) method of inspection for the quality

grades standardized, and (d) designation of quality

grades for use in specifications and on drawings.

The special committee also found that there was a decided interest on the part of certain lines of industry for standards of quality for finishes produced

b}^- fabricating processes other than machining and

grinding, such as casting, rolling, drawing, forging,

etc., and also for finishes produced by hand tools. Furthermore, the special committee agreed that it was not desirable to recommend that the scope of the

project be limited to quality of finishes produced on

metal surfaces. In fact, the establishment of standards for the surface quality of parts made of bakelite, glass, hard rubber, etc., may also appear to be

desirable.

While, therefore, the immediate need evidently

mainly concerns machined and ground surfaces, the

special committee recommended a formula for the

general scope of the work that is wide enough to permit the sectional committee to take up the additional items referred to above, if it so desires. (A

fonnula of scope defines the field which a sectional

committee may, but not necessarily must, cover.) This

general scope is worded as follows : “ Classification

and designation of surfaces according to quality of

surface.”

This wording does not tie the work to the process by

which the surfaces in question have been produced, nor

to the materials to which they belong, metal or othei’- wise.

Owing to the many and varied interests involved,

the special committee also recommended that the final wording of the scope of the project be left to the sec- tional committee now to be organized. If the proposed scope is found to be acceptable by the sectional

committee, the title of the project may accordingly,

the special committee suggested, be stated as follows

Classification and designation of surface qualities.”

USE OF QUALITY LABEL IN FARM-MARKETING PROGRAM

The New England farm-marketing program during

1931 continued to show a steady and substantial

growth, from the standpoint of both the number of

users of the New England quality label and the number of labels used, according to the March, 1932, is- sue of the New England News Letter. The program

is the major project of the New England Council in

the field of agriculture.

There were 314 more users of the label in 1931 than

in 1930, and an increase of more than two and onecpiarter million in the number of labels used. There

were 843 poultrymen using the New England label in 1931. Of these 843 users, 573 were marketing eggs

under the label and 270 used the label in selling their

turkeys. In the six New England States, 20 different

farm products are subject to grades established by the

department of agriculture entitling them to be marketed with the New England quality label attached.
332 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY MAT, 1932 FOSTERING STANDARDIZATION

Cooperation of the Bureau of Standards and the American Standards Association

By R. A. Martino, Bureau of Standards^

Since the United States Department of Commerce

is one of the member bodies of the American Standards Association, and the Bureau of Standards is naturally interested in standardization, the bureau

takes a very active jiart in the work of the association.

TJie present paper is intended to give a condensed re- view of the cooperation of the scientific research and

commercial standardization groups of the bureau in

the standardization activities of various committees

functioning under the procedure of the American

Standards Association.

The American Standards Association was organized in 1918 to serve as the authorized clearing house

through which nationally applicable standards are develo^ied and approved. At present the membership

consists of 43 national technical societies, trade associations, and departments and establishments of the

h'ederal Government. In addition to this membership

class, there is a group of sustaining members composed of associations, industrial concerns, and individual companies. There is also a group of cooperating bodies which have a direct interest in the work

of the American Standards Association.

Since its organization there have come before the

American Standards Association 213 projects involving one or more subjects from which there have been

developed to date 200 standards approved either as American tentative or American standards.

At the present time the Bureau of Standards is re- sponsible for the management of IT projects, serving

either as sole or joint sponsor under the rules of procedure of the ASA. In addition, it is officially repre- sented on 84 sectional and special committees in the develoinnent of projects sponsored by other organizations. Of the American standards thus far approved by

the ASA, the bureau has participated in the development of 121 relating to many subjects in various fields of industry.

In the accompanying table ai'e shown the total number of projects which have been submitted to the ASA

for development under its rules of procedure and also

Civil

engi- neering]

Mechanical engineer- ing

Electrical engineer- ing

-Auto- motive

Transportation

Fer- rous

metal- lurgy

Nonferrous metal- lurgy

Chemical in- dustryTextile in- dustry

Mining

industry Woodindustry

Pulp and

paper

industry

Miscellane- ous

Total

Projects under ASA procedure 36

ft 38 43 5 10 4 14 12 5 21 4 1 20 213 Standards approved by the AS-A._ _ _ 21 41 27 4 10 4 6 10 3 12 13 1 48 200

5 1 4 2 2 17 Bureau representation on ASA committees 22 20 11 2 1 1 5 3 4 3 4 1 7 84 Bureau cooperation in the development of -American standards-.- --- - 21 13 17 4 1 2 3 5 3 2 13 1 36 121

(Table compiled as of Apr. 1, 1932.)

tlie total number of standards which have been ap- proved to date. These are listed according to the ASA

system of classification which covers practically every

major field of industry. The table also shows the total number of projects for which the bureau is serving

as sponsor or joint sponsor, the number of ASA committees on which it is officially repi’esented, and also

the extent of cooperation in the development of American standards.

Included among the standards in the mechanical

field is the one relating to Fire-Hose Coupling Screw

Thread, which was approved as an American standard

by the ASA in 1925. Although not serving as one of

the sponsor bodies the bureau cooperated very active!}^

with the sectional committee in the development of the

technical details and requirements because of its A^ery close cooperation in the formulation of the National

ScreAv Thread Commission report on which this standard is based. Since its approval this standard has

been extensively promulgated and its use is constantly

increasing. , This is evidenced by the fact that more

than 3,900 cities and towns located in 40 States and

the District of Columbia have adopted it. The States of California, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oregon, and

^ -Abstract of paper delivered before staff meeting of the Bureau of Standards on Apr. 15, 1932.

Texas have passed legislative enactments which prohibit the sale, purchase, or use of any fire-fighting apparatus Avhich does not conform to American Standard

Fire-Hose Coupling ScreAV Threads.

The bureau is officially represented on the sectional

committee on regulations for electric wiring and ap- paratus in relation to fire hazard which is known as the National Electrical Code, the fifteenth revision

of which was approved last year as an American

standard, and issued as the 1931 edition of the original National Electrical Code, which was first published in 1897.

The Bureau of Standards served as sole sponsor for

the sectional committee on the National Electrical

Safety Code. This code was first approved as an American standard in 1922. The present edition was

given the status of American standard in 1927. The

Avork of developing the last edition Avas done by two

sectional committees functioning under the sponsorship of the bureau.

This code is jiublished by the Bureau of Standards

and is designated as Handbook No. 3. In addition,

the bureau has also issued a publication to serve as a companion volume to the code. This volume deals

Avith a discussion of the rules contained in the National Electrical Safety Code and is designated as Bureau of Standards Handbook No. 4.
MAY, 1932 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 333

Protection of persons and property against lightning is a subject of growing importance in view of in- juries to persons and damage to property which oc- cur annually. A real effort has been made in minimizing as much as possible the dangers incident to lightning by the formulation of a safety code prepared

under the auspices of the American Standards Association. The code for the protection against lightning was prepared by a sectional committee serving under

the joint sponsorship of the American Institute of

Electrical Engineers and the Bureau of Standards.

This code, issued in 1929, comprises five parts. Parts

I and II, relating to iirotection of persons and buildings, were approved as American standards, and Part

III, dealing with protection of structures containing

inflammable liquids and gases, was approved as American tentative standard by the ASA. These are in- cluded in a publication printed b}^ the Bureau of

Standards as Miscellaneous Publication No. 92. Parts

IV and V, having to do with the protection of elec- trical circuits and equipment against lightning, were

printed in booklet form (Miscellaneous Publication

No. 95) by the bureau as a preliminary report of the

sectional committee in 1929 and circulated for comments, criticisms, and suggestions.

During the past year there was organized under the

auspices of the American Standards Association, the

Electrical Standards Committee which supersedes the

former Electrical Advisory Committee of the ASA.

The chief function of the ESC is to coordinate all work relating to the formulation of standards of

national scope affecting the electrical industry. This

new committee, with some additional members, also serves as the United States National Committee of the

International Electrotechnical Commission. In this

connection it is the channel through which the work

of ASA sectional committees is correlated with in- ternational projects in the field of the lEC. The

Bureau of Standards is one of 11 groups represented on the Eelectrical Standards Committee and, as such,

is entitled to one vote on all business matters coming

before the committee.

The Bureau of Standards has taken a leading part

in ASA work on safety codes.

For many years industry has been concerning itself with the problem of reducing accidents among employees, particularly those who are engaged in hazardous occupations.

Many of the States have established industrial ac- cident boards or compensation commissions to adjust

claims of employees and to prescribe safety rules in- tended for the use of industries to reduce as much as possible the hazards which are to be found in the

performance of certain lines of work.

The preparation of safety rules or codes commanded

its greatest attention, perhaps, during the World War.

The Bureau of Standards. Avorking in cooperation

Avith the War and Navy Departments, proceeded to

jirepare several safety codes for Government use. While this Avork Avas in progress it Avas felt that a demand Avould be made by industries for the deA^elopment of safety codes in their respectiA’e fields in order

that their Avork could be carried on as expeditiously as possible and AAuth a minimum of damage to machinery

and accidents to enqiloyees. The bureau appreciated

the importance of this Avork, i)articularly at that time,

and so decided to call a conference of industrial and

interested organizations for the purpose of preparing

safety codes and rules which later might become national codes and be generally used throughout the

country, thereby eliminating duplication of effort and differences AAdiich might be found in the codes

adopted by various States. Such a conference AA^as held in 1919.

At a second conference called in the same year,

the American Standards Association, then knoAAUi as the American Engineering Standards Committee, aauis requested to ask the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions, the National Safety Council, and the Bureau of Standards

to form a National Safety Code Committee. The committee was organized in 1920 and began to function

under the auspices of the AESC. In 1922, this committee Avas reorganized as the Safety Code Correlating Committee, by which name it is known at present, and placed on a strictly representatiA’e basis. All

safety projects coming before the ASA are referred to

this committee for consideration and aclAdce both at their initiation and when the completed codes are submitted for approval as American standards. The

bureau is officially represented on the membership of

this committee.

Since its organization there haA’e come before the

ASA 39 safety jirojects covering seA’eral fields of in- dustry. From this number, 23 have already been

approA^ed either as American standards or American

tentatiA’e standards. This number does not include the

codes pertaining to the electrical industry AA’hich haA'e already been reviewed.

The Bureau of Standards served or is serving as sponsor or joint sponsor for 6 sectional committees

dealing Avith safety codes and is officially represented on 23 additional committees.

Safety-code work conducted under the auspices of

the ASA in the building and construction industry

shoAvs remarkable progress and development. The

Bureau of Standards, in cooperation with the American Institute of Architects and the American Society

of Mechanical Engineers serA^ed as joint sponsor for

the safety code for elevators, dumb-Avaiters, and escalators Avhich Avas approved as an American standard.

Through representation on ASA committees the bu- reau assisted in the preparation of American standard safet}’' codes for building exits; construction

I Avork; lighting factories, mills and other work places;

floor and wall openings, railings and toe boards; construction, care and use of ladders; AA’alkAA'a}^ surfaces;

lighting of school buildings; and AvindoAv washing.

The bureau served as sponsor for the sectional committee on the safety code for logging and saAvmill

operations.

Such mechanical codes as relate to the use, care, and protection of abrasiA^e AA’heels; protection of in- dustrial Avorkers in foundries: mechanical refrigeration; poAver presses and foot and hand ]u-esses:

mechanical poAA’ei' transmission : forging and hot

metal stamping; and laibbcr macbiuery have all been

deA"elo])ed through sectional committees Avith the bu- reau being represented on all of them.

Safety-code AA’ork in the automotiA'e industry has

also commanded the attention of the bureau. It serAU'd as sponsor for the code relating to colors for ti-affic signals AA’hieli Avas a])proved as an Ainei-ican standai'd

in 1927, and as joint sponsor AA'ith the Anuu-ican Auto-
334 COMMBKCIAL STANDAKDS MONTHLY MAY, 1932

mobile Association for the safety code for brakes and

brake testing approved as an American tentative

standard also in 1927. In addition it is assisting in

the development of other codes pertaining to automobiles and aircraft through cooperation with sectional

committees dealing with such problems as aeronautical

safety code and technical standards of safety for the

design, construction, and testing of aircraft; laboratory tests for approval of electric headlighting devices

for motor vehicles; and manual of street traffic signs,

signals, and markings.

One of the first safety codes which was approved

by the ASA as American standard was the National

Safety, Code for the Protection of the Heads and Eyes

of Industrial Workers. The first edition of this code was prepared and issued in 1921 by the bureau with

the helpful cooperation of an advisory committee

composed of repi-esentatives of interested organizations. It was published as Bureau of Standards

Handbook No. 2. Later this code was revised to con- form to industrial requirements, regulations, and

practices as well as to include references to more modern and scientific protective devices and equipment,

and the second edition was approved as an American

standard.

The Bureau of Standards has assisted materially

in the formulation of codes affecting certain other

industries under American Standards Association procedure. For example, it cooperated with sectional

committees in the preparation of safety codes for

plants operating textile machinery and equipment,

woodworking plants, paper and pulp mills, and laundry machinery operations.

Several years ago the American Standards Association became a member of the International Standards Association as the representative of American

industry in matters of international standardization.

Several projects now before the ASA have become

international in scope, one of them being the standardization of sieves for testing purposes. This project

is being sponsored jointly by the American Society for

Testing Materials and the Bureau of Standards functioning under ASA procediu'e, and corresponds to ISA project No. 24. The ASA sectional committee

has designated a member of the bureau staff to serve

as the American representative on the international

committee.

Some of the more widely recognized Federal specifications are being submitted to the American Standards Association for consideration for approval as American standards. From time to time certain Federal specifications promulgated by the Federal Specifications Board which have received widespi’ead apjH’Oval have been submitted to the ASA, and several

have already received ASA approval. The specification covering dry cells and batteries was approved as an American standard in 1930, the bureau serving as sponsor for the sectional committee. Specifications

for liquid soap and putty Avere given the status of

American tentative standards in 1930 under ASA procedure. The bureau was officially represented on the

special committee Avhich gave consideration to these

specifications.

One of the first standards approved by the American

Standards Association was that relating to Portland

cement for which there were in existence at that time

two specifications, one issued by the American Society for Testing Materials, and the other by the Federal Specifications Board, the tAvo being identical in all respects excej^t for the use of the two words “ ma}'^ ” and “ shall.” The ASTM specification was formally

approved as an American standard, and thereby the same status was given to the Federal specification,

which covers the identical commodity.

One of the functions of the bureau in standardization is the service that it renders to industry in the re- duction of waste through the elimination of unnecessary varieties of products, methods, or practices. By

means of this cooperation, industry has, through the

bureau’s division of simplified practice, established

simplified practice recommendations covering many

lines of commodities or activities in various fields of

industry.

Three simplified practice recommendations dealing

Avith concrete materials and construction prepared

under the auspices of the division of simplified practice have been submitted for ASA consideration. The

Bureau of Standards served as joint sponsor with

the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute for the ASA

sectional committees on steel spiral rods for concrete reinforcement, steel reinforcing bars, and sizes of

forms for concrete ribbed floor construction. Recommendations covering the first tAVo subjects were approved as American standards. These are published

by the Bureau of Standards as SPR-53 (ASA-A38)

and SPR-26 (ASA-A47), respectively. The third

recommendation is still before the committee pending

acceptance by industry of the proposed revision.

Coincident Avith the Avork of the division of simplified practice in the elimination of waste and following somewhat in detail the procedure employed in the

formulation of simplified practice recommendations,

the bureau’s division of trade standards is carrying on a very important activity through its cooperation

with industry in the development of commercial standards for grades and standards of quality for different

commodities. It frequently happens that different

commercial standards in the same broad field may

recommend conflicting requirements or methods of test since the procedure for the establishment of these

standards provides no direct means for coordination

betAveen the various industries, except in so far as each

may voluntarily accept the practices of other industries within its own broad field. In order that this Avork may be more properly co- ordinated Avith similar activities being carried out in

various American industries and the value of commercial standards be more generally appreciated; and

in order that duplication of work and the promulgation of conflicting standards may be avoided, certain

of the commercial standards, at the specific request of

the industries concerned, are being submitted to the

American Standards Association for approval as American standards.

At the present time there have been submitted to the ASA three commercial standards dealing Avith builders template hardware, foundry patterns of

Avood, and plain and thread plug and ring gage

blanks. These have been presented for approval as American standards by representative organizations

of the industries in which they apply. The Bureau

of Standards is assisting these organizations in an

advisory capacity with reference to matters pertaining to ASA procedure.
MAY, 1932 COMMERCIAL, STANDARDS MONTHLY 335

LABELING OF FOOD PRODUCTS

If a housewife wants to get her money’s worth, she

should know what labels on food containers mean. Through the educational woi'k done by the Federal

Food and Drug Administration, United States Department of Agriculture, the housewife in the smallest settlement in the country to-day can assure herself

and family of the highest grade commodities by

“ reading the labels.” The art of pickling is one of the oldest methods

of preserving food known to man. It is said that

when explorers uncovered the ruins of Pompeii, destroyed in A. D. 79, they discovered pickled olives

which retained, after nearly 2,000 years, their characteristic flavor. While many kinds of foods are

pickled, pickles to the housewife generally means cu- cumbers. Cauliflower, onions, and other vegetables

when properly put down in brine or vinegar are con- sidered as pickled. The pure food law requires that

pickles entering into interstate trade be labeled with

quantity-of-contents statements. Some manufacturers

state on their labels how many pickles there are within

the container. Net-weight statements apply to the

Aveight of pickles exclusive of brine or vinegar.

Where volume statements, such as 1 pint' or 1 gallon,

appear, the pure food law requires that the pickles

must completely All the volume specifled.

The label on a box of raisins will tell the discerning

buyer more about this delicacy than the dictionary

does. Coming mostly from the Mediterranean countries and California, raisins fall into a number of different classes, suited for special purposes. Clusters

and seeded raisins are sold by size and the sizes are frequently indicated by the terms “Fancy” and

“ Choice.” Two other designations frequently printed on labels to indicate relative sizes are “ Extra standard,” and “ Sstandard.” “ Extra standard ” raisins

generally are meaty and plump and have shallow

Avrinkles, while raisins of the next lower grade,

“ Standard,” tend to be more wrinkled and lean. The

housewife may And upon raisin-box labels information as to the kind, variety, quantity, place of production, whether seedless or seeded, and sometimes a declaration of grade. While the pure food and drugs

act does not require all this information, it does indi- cate that labelings be truthful. Raisin boxes are oc- casionally slack filled, but the label always states the

quantity in the package.

All mustard products come from the three general

classes of seed—Avhite, black, and intermediate, the

STANDARDS PROPOSED FOR WOOD FIBER

INSULATING BOARD

At the request of the manufacturers of wood fiber

insulating board, a general conference is scheduled at the Palmer House, Chicago, for May 16, to consider

the adoption of a commercial standard for this commodity. The conference Avill be held under the auspices of the division of trade staiidards of the Bureau

of Standards, and a tentative specification proposed by

a committee of manufacturers will be used as a basis

for discussion.

The proposed standard will cover insulating building board, such as that used for sheathing, partitions.

latter shading from yellow to broAvn to red. The

A^alue of mustard as a condiment depends on its content of volatile oil or other pungent principles. The

official standard prohibits the presence of starch,

mustard bran, or vegetable gums in prepared mustard. Tumeric is sometimes added to prepared

mustard. If it is present, it will often be declared on the label. While tumeric is sometimes added to give the mustard a yellow color, it actually does not

closely resemble the pure mustard color. Some mustard manufacturers make an imitation which, as a

rule, according to the statement of the Federal Food

and Drug Administration, contains principally mustard bran, usually with some mustard seed, and sometimes starch or gum. This has the appearance of a good prepared mustard. The food law requires that

such an article be sold under a label which makes it clear that the product is an imitation, and further

specifies that the ingredients of the product be

declared on the label. Many asparagus labels bear grade designations,

which run all the way from “ Giant,” meaning asparagus of 1-inch diameter at the base, to “ Tiny ” asparagus under three-eighths inch in diameter. Other designations, indicating size, from largest to smallest, are

“ Colossal,” “ Mammoth,” “ Large,” and “ Medium.”

Color is also important, and the packers separate as- paragus into lots varying in color, as light green,

white, and natural, which is unbleached. Asparagus

labeled salad points (tips), which range in length

from 1 to 2)4 inches, are packed in all sizes of cans. The diameter of the tips usually varies between that of

the mammoth and small sizes. Very large and very

small tips are not packed as salad points. Salad

points, as a rule, bring a lower price than do asparagus

tips, which are cut to a uniform length. If a buyer

finds a label reading asparagus soup tips, or asparagus

tips, she may expect the can to contain nothing but the

tip portions. A can labeled asparagus center cuts, however, will contain no tip pieces. Products labeled

merely cut asparagus or asparagus soup cuts contain

both tips and center cut, or butt pieces.

The statement of the Federal Food and Drug Administration points out that it will pay to read the

quantity of contents statements required by the pure

food law to be printed on cans or other containers of

foodstuffs. The law requires that these statements be

truthful and not misleading.

plaster base, etc., and roof insulating board. The

former class is governed by requirements for thermal

conductivity, moisture absorption, tensile strength,

plaster adhesion, expansion, minimum thiclcnesses, and

standard sizes, while the only requirement for roof

insidating board is that of thermal conductivity.

Wliile the standard, as proposed, refers to wood

fiber insulating boards, it is recognized that other

similar boards are made from bagasse, cornstalks,

licorice root fibers, and other material, and the con- ference will be open to suggestions for broadening

the scope of this project to include all fiber isulating

boards.
336 COMMEECIAL STANDAEDS MONTHLY MAY, 1032 STANDARDIZATION AS AN AID TO RETAIL MERCHANDISING

More profitable sales are induced through “ eye appeal ” than in any other luauuer. Merchandise readily

accessible to the hands of the houseivife is more than

half sold. This philosophy of “ eye appeal ” has practically revolutionized retail merchandising. The

heretofore odd and ill-assorted stocks of improper

fixtures and equipment and variegated assortment of

goods is giving way to modern standardized fixtures

and equipment and higher standards of quality of the

goods.

The grocery trade eqnijnnent department of the

National Association of Retail Grocei's has approi^ed

s23ecifications for shelving units and service counters. These specifications are the first of a proposed series covering the complete grocery fixture and equijunent

line, to be acted on by the association. As raf)idly as

2)Ossihle other units will be considered and, as careful

study is succeeded by definite conclusions, specifications will be issued. Such specifications will represent

what analysis, inquiry, and study seem to recommend

as the most joractical for general use in the way of

dimensions and construction.

No attemjit will be made to dictate either tq manufacturers as to what they will produce, nor will there

be any dictation, coercion, or ^^ersuasion to get retail groceryman to buy any particular manufacturer’s make

of fixture or equipment. The important thing will be

the finding of specifications and lucsenting them to the grocery trade. Manufacturers building eqnijDinent

in accordance with these a}:)proved specifications will

be ])ermitted to state :

Built according to specifications approved by the National

Association of Retail Grocers. These sjiecifications will be somewhat flexilile in the

beginning in order that experimental study of o^tera- tion may be made.

For the ^u'csent and until further announcement, the

National Association of Retail Grocers will a^iply this

service onl}^ to wall shelving, service counters, dis^jlay

racks, floor display tables, stands, and window dis- play equi2)ment, taking each of these in order until

all tlie shelving and disjilay requirements of the retail groceryman have come under the comjilete iDrogram.

Refrigeration, disphi}^ equiinnent, scales, cases, utensils, and ajDpliances will be given consideration as quickly as conditions will ])ermit.

The National Retail Hardware Association began

several years ago to attack the same situation in its field, with the result that to-day that association gives

fixture equiinnent, store planning, and display consulting service to its members and the hardware merchants of the country.

‘'Manufactured in accordance with S2)ecifications

ap2)roved by the National Retail Hardware Association,” is now found on the more imjmrtant e(iui2)ment

in most progre.ssive hardware stores, according to the

National Grocers’ Bulletin in discussing tlie situation.

The bulletin pointed out that thei-e are many thousands of retail grocers now equii^ped with obsolete and

antiquated fixtures which the ^^ressing 2)roblem of

modernizing and effective com^^letion will soon throw

into the discard.

According to the "Wisconsin Retail Bulletin discussions on quality of goods featured the annual convention of the National Retail Dry Goods Association.

The variofis s^^eakers touclied on reasons why stores should trade iq) on the quality of their goods, in their

res]3 ective addresses to the convention.

John D. Hughes, merchandise manager of Denholm

& McKay Co., Worcester, Mass., stated that chea^D merchandise has been glorified entirely too much.

“ Skim^^ed sizes and hidden weaknesses never made

friends of customers for any store,” he said “ and

every ^^ossible effort should be made by our buyers to discourage the manufacture of such merchandise.

Si^ecifications of size and quality should be watched more carefull}'' than in the j^ast. * * Fashion

is more im^^ortant in the present situation than it has

been in any similar j^eriod. * * * The more that

stores trade up, the farther they will move in the

right direction * * * away from the ‘ danger

line in merchandise.’ * * * 'v\re need a sincere

‘ trading ’ movement * * * not an excited

rush that will get us nowhere in the long run, but a common-sense, carefully planned camjDaign in all stores to jDromote the sale of better merchandise,

combining quality, de^^endability, and fashion at a price that customers are willing to pay.”

In discussing why stores must trade up, P. A.

O’Connell, i^resident of the E. T. Slattexy Co., Boston,

Mass., said “ Quality must be good, for people can

not afford to buy poor or uncertain merchandise. One

of the greatest mistakes a store can make to-day is to trade down on the quality of its goods.”

Paul H. Nystrom, 2)i'ofessor of marketing at ColuniIjia University, New York, N. Y., declared in an article in the Retail Ledger shortly after the convention,

that “ consumers, though forced to consider j^rice,

have not lost their interest in quality, and every joiece

of goods misre})resented or jerry-built for sale purl^oses that finds its way into consumers’ hands is likely to serve as a reminder for years to come to trade

elsewhere.”

In his first statement as president of the National

Retail Dry Goods Association, E. T. Slattery said

:

There seem to be two schools of thought as to the most

practical method of meeting the pincli in net profits tliat is resulting from the lowered amount of sales in dollars. Some

believe that the solution lies in a higher mark-up. If general

conditions were favorable they doubtless would he justified in

their reasoning.

The other school is convinced that in view of the present

trend of economic conditions, a higher mark-up would only

make a further shrinkage in volume of sales and thereby de- feat its purpose. In my opinion, the second group is right. IVith the present restricted Imying power of consumers, the

great need is for lower distrilnition costs, and the retail merchant who can do most to reduce the cost of distrilnition and

at the same time give the quality of merchandising and service that people need is the one who will make the most headway

during the coming period. I might add also that supplying

only the quality of merchandise which people need is one of the surest ways to cut distril>ution cost.s.
MAT, 1032 commeecial, standards monthly 337

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING MATERIALS

The following’ ciirrent information concerning developments in standardization jirojects under the ausjiices and procedure of tlie American Society for

Testing Materials, has been furnished by that society

Masonry cement.—The society has approved tentative specifications and tests for masonry cement.

These specifications are, with certain modifications,

the same as the present Federal specifications for

masonry cement. In view of the extended use of this

material and the many types on the market at the

present time, there has been a need for a standard

embodying specifications and accepted tests, and it is believed that the publication of the proposecl standanl

as tentative will accelerate interest in improving the

methods of testing this material.

Yiscosity temperature chart. —The new viscosity

temperature chart has been adopted as tentative standard. For many j^ears it has been necessary to know

the viscosity of various iietroleum liquids, conspicuously lubricating oils, at the varying temperatures of

use. The determination of viscosity requires considerable time. By determining the Saybolt viscosity

(ASTM method D88-30), at two temperatures, it is possible to calculate the viscosity at an_v intermediate

temperature, but the calcidations involved are ver}^

laborious. During the last 10 j^ears, various individuals have prepared graphic charts Avith ruling so made

that a straight line drawn through tAvo determined

viscosity-tenqjerature points Avill indicate intermediate

viscosities and, within reason, viscosities outside the

range of measurement may be obtained by extrapolation. There have been in use at least seven such charts,

differing from each other in size, method of ruling, and

system of units. The resulting discrepancies were

sometimes serious. For the sake of accuracy, as well

as uniformity, a real need for a standard chart became

apparent, particularly to automotiA'e engineers stud}'-

ing the series of problems presented by neAv automotiA'e

design, such as free Avheeling, hypoid gears, etc. Creosote. —Certain creosote tables Avill be presented

to the society’s annual meeting, to be held in June

at Atlantic City, Avith a recommendation that they be

accepted as a tentatiA’e standard. In 1927 a joint committee Avas set up composed of representatives of the

society’s committee on timber and repi’esentatives of

the committee on Avood preservation and preservatives

of the American Raihvay Engineering Association and

the American Wood Preservers’ Association. The objective of this joint committee Avas to provide standard

tables for correcting the A’olume of creosote when observed at Auirious temperatures in and above the at- mospheric range, and for correction of specific gravity

in a similar temperature range. It Avas knoAvn that the

correction factor commonly in use in the Avood presei'A'ing industry Avas not accurate, nor Avas there any

general agreement on the correction factor or method

of using it. The Bureau of Standards haAung published about that time correction tables for petroleum

in cooperation Avith the American petroleum industry,

it Avas decided to approach it Avith the vieAv to having

it make the necessary density determinations leadi)ig to the preparation of tables for creosote. The creosote

tables Avere published in 1928 and 1929. FolloAving

this, the same committee obtained the cooperation of

the Bureau of Standards in preparing additional tables

for mixtures of creosote and coal tar commonly used

the Bureau of Standards in preparing additional tables

incliule corrections in parallel columns for three commodities, namely, creosote, creosote coal-tar solution

and coal tar. There can be doubt that the tables Avill be universally recognizeel and used throughout the

Avood preservation industry and the importance of this

matter to the industry may be judged by the statement

that the annual use of creosote exceeds 200,000,000

gallons. Temperature correction enters into every

transaction concerning the sale of creosote and its daily use at the treating plants.

Fire tests.—The society’s committee on fire tests for

materials and construction, as an outcome of extended

discussion at its meeting held in NeAv York on March

IT, has decided to organize neAv subcommittees to pre- pare, for the consideration of the main committee,

specifications for fire tests of acoustical and similar

finishes and for scaffolding. Reports from the subcommittees of the committee indicate marked progress

in the development of the fire test specifications that

are under consideration. These are proposed tests for

treated lumber, and tests for doors for use on interior

Avail openings. One of the subcommittees has been

assigned to revieAV the comments and criticisms that

haA’e been received relating to the present tentative

sjAecifications for fire tests of building construction

and materials. As soon as a digest of these criticisms

is prepared, the specifications Avill be critically revieAA'ed, and it is hoped that soon thereafter they may

be proposed to the society for adoption as standard.

At the meeting of March 17 the need for a subcommittee on nomenclature and definitions Avas made ap-

])arent, and it is quite probable that such a committee

will soon be appointed.

BRITISH STANDARDS FOR AIR RECEIVERS

Users of receivers and bottles for compressed air

Avill be directly interested in three neAv British standard specifications for air receivers Avhieh liaA’e been

issued by tlie British Standards Institution.

The first of these refers to forge-Avelded steel air

receiA’ers, the second to riA’eted-steel air receivers, and

the third to solid-draAvn steel air receivers. Each

specification provides for the (juality of material used.

the method of construction, fornndas for the determination of plate and end tliickness. ajid recpiirements

for Avoikmanship and testing.

The specification for forge-Avelded air receiATi’s also

lays doAvn details as to tlie methods of making forgeAvelded joints, for attaching the ends and also for inlet and outlet connections, and tlie riveted air-receiA’er specification states the reijuirements for efficiencies of

joints, thicknesses of butt strajis, methods of I’iveting,

and the staAung of end plates.
338 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY MAY, 1932 INDUSTRIAL STANDARDIZATION AND MOBILIZATION

Plans of the War Department in Connection with Future Industrial Mobilization Provide for the Fullest

Utilization of Commercial Standardization

By S. F. Tillman

In developing plans for war-time procurement the

War Department has been most alert to, and in step

with, the modern industrial trend toward simplification and standardization. In any mobilization of

major scale the War Department will use vast quantities of what may be termed strictly commercial items.

To supply a large army will call for the most complete cooperation between the Army and industry.

The best cooperation can only be maintained by a mutual understanding of each other’s problems on the

part of the War Department and industry. This is now being studied by carefully selected officers of the

Army who are assigned to duty in the office of the

Assistant Secretary of War. One of the major functions of this group is to keep abreast of what industry

and the various technical and trade associations are doing to further the principles of simplification and

standardization, since such activities will be reflected

in war-time procurement.

The plans for the mobilization of the Nation’s in- dustries will not be executed by the War Department.

This will be the responsibility of a super agency, consisting of civilians operating directly under the President. This organization will be fashioned somewhat

along the lines of the War Industries Board existent

during the World War. Through this organization

the President will be enabled to exercise the leadershij!)

necessary to carry the country through the industrial

emergencies occasioned by war. While this civilian group will be responsible for in- dustrial mobilization in case of war, the advanced

planning is being done by the War Department. The

task of the Army in peace time is to estimate care- fully the amount and kinds of supplies and munitions

needed in time of war, and to tentatively allocate the

necessary manufacturing facilities, thus eliminating

the confusion and mistakes experienced in the World

War.

The War Department’s interest in standardization

is not a post war development. Fundamentally speaking, the Army was a pioneer in this field. The science

of interchangeable manufacture that has revolutionized industry began in this country in 1798 with the

filling of a contract for 10,000 muskets. In 1812 interchangeability had become a normal contract specification of the War Department.

In regard to standardization, one example will serve

to point out what the War Department is doing in

this field. Radio sets are designed for particular uses and must therefore have varying characteristics.

Many components, such as batteries, tubes, antennas,

and in some cases even the receiver or transmitter are used in more than a single type of set. This insures mass production of most of the components and specialized production on only a comparatively small

number of the components.

But what part is standardization playing in the current procurement studies of the War Department?

The Army has recognized the practical wisdom of

fitting in, so far as possible, with the commercial practices and its specifications are prepared with this objective in view. Recent application of quality standards to familiar articles of commerce has greatly stimulated interest in the establishment of standards- The

average buyer, whether acting for the War Department, a large corporation, a department store, or a

single family, is confronted with a bewildering variety of product, prevalent propaganda, clever claims,

glittering guaranties, salient sales talks, and adulant

advertising, which are difficult to evaluate. How can

he compare quality or value with any degree of safety

or assurance? The answer is, obviously, by purchasing on nationally recognized specifications.

A specification or standard is a clear and accurate

description of a material, article, or service, which is to be procured, and the procedure which the purchaser

will follow to satisfy himself that the requirements of

the specifications have been complied with. As it is impossible to foresee, classify, and cover ivith detailed

and fixed instructions, every condition under which

purchases may be necessary, so it is impossible to pre- pare a specification from which there may be no vari- ance. It is not the puiqiose of specifications to unnecessarily restrict purchasing officers, or to deprive them

of such discretion in purchasing as special conditions

and good business judgment may dictate.

Army purchases are made on specifications. The

supervision of the preiiaration of such is vested in the

Assistant Secretary of War. If a complicated specification is promulgated the steady flow of finished

items in time of need will be seriously impaired.

Hence the desire of the War Department to adopt

commercial standards and methods of test whenever

possible. Army specifications are based on nationally

recognized industrial practices. Where a Federal

specification is existent for the item to be procured,

that specification is followed. Thus in drafting Army

specifications for which there exists either a Federal

specification or a nationally recognized commercial

standard, it will not be necessary to repeat all technical data contained in an existent specification. It

will suffice to refer by name to the existing specification or method of test to be followed.

What will be the gains to the War Department in

following this procedure? It must be remembered

that after the national emergency calling for mobilization of industry exists, time required to procure supplies and equipment will be precious. Production of

needed items must keep pace with the tempo of mobilization of man power. Hence, any savings that can

be made in the time required for deliveries will mean

just that much more contributed to the ultimate conclusion of the emergency.
MAY, 1032 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 339

Through having the War Dejiartment follow generally recognized commercial practices, the manufacturers will be able to make longer runs on production

with less frequent change of machines and will be

able to increase the rate of production of the individual workers; they will be able to improve and simplify the inspections required, and at the same time

keep to a minimum the need for more manufacturing

equipment.

To the War Department this will mean greater con- hdence and assurance of quality and quantity, as well

as insuring easy replacement of needed parts; in- crease of production of standardized items will permit

a decrease of the deliver}'^ time required for the

finished items, as well as storage space and handling

requirements.

Thus, in no small degree is the ultimate success of

the War Department’s procurement plans contingent on commercial standardization.

APPROVAL OF COMMERCIAL STANDARDS AS

AMERICAN STANDARDS

Commercial standards are developed by individual

industries to serve as a nationally-acceptable basis for

marketing their individual commodities in order that

the producer may have a basis for certification of

quality and that the distributor and consumer may

both have a definite basis for justifying complaint on unsatisfactory material.

It frequently occurs that difllerent commercial standards in the same broad field may recommend conflicting nomenclature, requirements, or methods of test since the procedure for the establishment of these

standards provides no direct means for coordination

between the various industries, except in so far as each

may voluntarily accept the practices of other industries within its own broad field, such as, for example,

textiles. The American Standards Association, organized in

1918, has as one of its most important functions the

duty of coordinating standards so as to avoid conflict

and to determine the status of such standards in rela- tion to the entire field of standardization. In order

that each individual standard may assume its proper

place in the broader structure of standardization for

all industries, it is desirable that any conflicts or dis- crepancies be discovered and remedied as far as practicable.

At present the association is a federation of 43

national technical societies, trade associations, and

departments and establishments of the Federal Government. Actions with resiiect to the formulation of

rules for the determination of status of standards are governed by a standards council consisting of representatives of all the member bodies. To this standards

council is intrusted the duty of approving standards

which are to be known as “American standards.”

In order that the work on commercial standards

may be properly coordinated with other standardization activities being carried out in various American

industries and their value be more generally appreciated, and in order that duplication of work and

the promulgation of conflicting standards may be

avoided, certain of the commercial standards, at the

specific request of the industries concerned, are being

submitted to the American Standards Association for

approval as American Standards.

Each industry should, of course, determine for itself whether its standards should be submitted to the

American Standards Association for this coordination process and in the event it desires to do so, some

trade association or technical society should be ready

to stand as sponsor for the project before the ASA.

In the event the industry desires to have a given commercial standard submitted for approval as an American standard and has no organized group which may

properly assume sponsorship, the Bureau of Standards will, on request, serve as sponsor for such

project.

CERTIFYING THE ELECTRIC LAYOUT

A plan has been developed by the Western Massachusetts Electric Light & Power Cos. by which the

group recommends for every set of house plans

brought to its attention, a wiring layout adapted to the particular house, according to an account appearing in the Electrical World.

On acceptance by the builder the company con- cerned certifies that the house has passed its requirements. As a result builders are said to be able to

sell such houses more rapidly than less modern ones and to obtain better prices for them. Wliere, in addition to other features, a complete electric kitchen is provided, the company certifies the electrical completeness of the home. Under these plans the usual in- stallation of wiring and outlets exceeds the “ red seal ” standard of the Society for Electrical Developments.

CHANGES IN MARKING CANNED GOODS

Certain changes in the marking of foods by canners

to designate quality and in the size and type of border

used in such markings were suggested on April 14 at a meeting of the Department of Agriculture in Washington. This meeting was called to consider proposed

changes in regulations under the McNary-Mapes

amendment to the Federal food and drugs act, according to the announcement of the Department of Agriculture.

The advisability of changing the substandard legend

required to be printed upon the labels of all foods that

fall below the quality prescribed by the Secretary of

Agriculture also was discussed.

The morning session of the April 14 meeting was

devoted largely to a consideration of proposed changes

in the substandard legend, “ Below U. S. Standard

Low Quality But Not Illegal,” required by the amendment to be printed upon the labels of all foods that

fall below the standards prescribed by the Secretary

of Agricidture. Representatives of canning companies

and associations and of consumer groups discussed the

advisability of changing the substandard legend so as

to read “Below U. S. Standard—Good Food, Not

High Grade.”

Tdie conference also considered the desirability of

reducing the size of type and border used in the printing of the legend, the consensus of opinion of those

present being that sizes should be reduced somewhat.
340 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY MAT, 1932 ART OF COMMUNICATION

Standard Communication Promotes Human Progress

By H. D. Hubbakd, Bureau of Standards

Standardized communication promotes human progress. Each has unique needs to add to the catalogue

of human desires. Each has unique ways to meet such

desires. Communication links need and means. At

the ends of each line of communication are the sender

and receiver—a general to his army, a newspaper to

its readers, a radio broadcast to the woxdd, or a chat

between two children. Contacting the two is the art of communication. Between them vast standard sys- tems of sending and receiving assure adequacy, ac- curacy, speed, convenience, economy, and the}^ are

fast becoming automatic.

Written word is sent by mail, pigeons, printing,

telegraph, wire, or radio. Spoken word goes direct by

wire or radio across continents and oceans. Code

signals with conventional meanings are primitively

sent by drums, click of stones under water, lieacon

fires, smoke pulses, flags, devices without end.

Language is a standard convention of symbols written, spoken, or performed by gesture (Indian sign language and deaf-mute manuals). The art of printing

is the multiplier and broadcaster of language in ink

patterns called alphabets. Literature is the capital

and equipment and contents of such broadcasts.

Communication is the bridge between minds or between nature and man. Waves of air and ether tell us all we know of the universe about us. Incoming

starlight is a continuous message of events among the

stars. Each atom formed in interstellar space sends a quantum of radiation, reporting the fact. Star light

messages en route millions of years reach the eye or the camera to be deciphered by prism or grating.

We use etlier waves wherever light or radio serves

us, for the two differ only in wave length. Patterned

grooves on a disk become automatic transmitters.

Photographic film is the automatic recorder and reproducer of incoming messages from a source. Patterned

light point pulses of ever varying size are the essential

of television.

Communication is a bridge to and from the minds

of men built on such air or ether waves. Air waves

which impinge on the ear meet tuned response mechanism. Such air waves are evoked by the thud of

the jungle drum, the clang of the gong, the stroke

of the cathedral carillon calling to prayer; by a thousand means of causing bodies to vibrate.

Standardization is essential because the messages

communicated must reach millions and be correctly in- terpreted. Hence, telephone equipment is standardized for both transmission and reception. The standard highway stop light is an example of one way communication. But recent developments permit the car

to turn the light to the cross traffic by photo-electric

cell or mechanical leverage. The red becomes an auto- matic broadcast 24 hours a day safeguarding the lives of motorists at every crossroad.

The flow of information through countless channels

of communication makes the world aware of its events everywhere. It quickens our racial life and enriches

it. Day and night the continuous flow of the news;

the epic of progress. Connnunication is essentially

a convention, which in itself means a standardized

language to the extent that it is intelligible to all. Progress in the means of communication, therefore,

directly speeds up human progress by perfecting the means. In unnumbered ways communication makes safe the

travel of the world, makes wiser its people, integrates

its interests and concerns, develops a racial consciousness not unlike in principle the central nervous system

of man, but on a racial scale. As transport carries

the means of subsistence and enterprises, so communication carries facts and ideas from each to all and all to each. It is the vast vehicle of the mental and

spiritual life of the world. In our own day it has

developed so that its messages travel with the speed of

light to the ends of the earth continuously, with

speech, signals, music, and song to inform, entertain,

educate, and to coordinate and unify the thoughts and

ideals of the human race. Communication is the ai’t which gathers and distributes and accumulates the

racial heritage of knowledge and its mechanisms are becoming standardized and thus perfected for the pur-

])oses they serve.

IOWA REVISES SPECIFICATIONS FOR

BRIDGES AND CULVERTS

Special provision of the bridge and culvert specifications issued by the Iowa State highway commission

under date of November 16, 1931, have been still further revised and the latest requirements became

effective March 29, 1932. Contractors who have been using hour-glass devices, some of them fashioned from superimposed milk

bottles, and all other similar arrangements for measuring the mixing time, Avill be obliged under the new

wording of the special provision to secure accurate mechanical timing equipment.

The provision now provides that “ the minimum

mixing time shall be indicated by an accurate timing

device which shall be antomatically started by the

mixer and ivliich shall indicate by a clearly audible

signal the expiration of the required mixing period.”

It is anticipated that rigid enforcement of the re- quirement of scales for proportioning aggregates by

Aveight Avill necessitate the purchase of more modern

and accurate scales than are noAV in use on a number

of jobs. The specifications provides that the scales shall be of simple, rugged design manufactured by an

established manufacturer of Aveighing equipment and

recommended by the maker for the kind of service

for Avhich they are to be used. It is said that the last ]ihrase of this specification Avill bar many of the scales previously employed.
MAY, 1932 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 341

SAFETY ON THE HIGHWAY

Standardized Signs and Signals Promote Highway Safety

By M. G. Lloyd, Bureau of Standards

Much of the traffic in the streets of any city is not

local, but interurban, interstate, or possibly of still more distant origin. If vehicle operators are to be

expected to comport themselves in conformity with

local regulations and practices, those regulations and

customs should be substantially uniform in all municiiialities.

Modern control and regulation of street traffic, to be efficient, involves the use of such mechanical helps

as traffic signals, signs, and pavement markings. The

use of such devices has been developing rajiidl}^ in recent years. City traffic has become so complicated

and restrictions have become so numerous that it is necessary for drivers of vehicles to receive an almost

continuous series of instructions not to violate regulations and thus interfere with the use of the streets by others.

The necessity of controlling traffic at intersections was first met by stationing a traffic officer personally

to direct the movements of vehicles. To perform this

function more easily he was provided with mechanical

semaphore signals operated manually to stop traffic alternately upon the two intersecting thoroughfares.

For use after nightfall, such apparatus was provided

with lanterns of some type, the color of the light

carrying the intended message. The desirability of

coordinating form, color, number, and lettering in

giving signals to an indiscriminate succession of

drivers, who may include the illiterate, the deaf, and

the color-blind, is obvious.

Traffic signal lights.—The value of the automatic

signal at street intersections has been sometimes questioned, and its installation should always be preceded

by a traffic surve,y which will indicate tlie type of control which may be necessary. Sucli signals have un- doubtedly been installed at places where their pres- ence was a nuisance and where the volume of traffic was not sufficient to warrant their use. In many

places they have been of great value in avoiding con- fusion and accidents and in releasing traffic officers for

use elsewhere. Whether their application expedites

traffic will depend entirely upon the local conditions.

Where such signals are installed their choice should

conform with general standards which have been

based upon wide experience and a consideration of all phases of the subject, so that they will be so far as possible uniform with the practice in other cities, and

thus cause as little confusion as may be to the visitingdriver. For instance, there was at one time some dis- crepancy in the use of colors for this purpose, but this

has been largely eliminated since the standard of the

American Standards Association on this subject was drawn up and iniblished. The standard practice here

is the same as upon the railroads and uses green to indicate “ Go,” red to indicate “ Stop,” and 5^ellow or amber to indicate “ Caution.”

The National Conference on Street and Highway

Safety adopted a manual on Street 'Fi-affic Signs,

Signals and Markings, prepared by a committee of the

American Engineering Council. The conference included such organizations as the American Automobile Association, American Electric Railway Association, American Mutual Alliance, American Railway Association, Chamber of Commerce of the United

States, National Association of Taxicab Owners, National Automobile Chamber of Commerce, National

Bureau of Casualty and Surety Underwriters, National Research Council, and the National Safety

Council. The standards of this manual conform to the above indications of color and recognize both a 3-color s^'stem and a 2-color system. The latter makes

use of only red and green. It has been widely applied

in cities in the States of California and New York

especially, and man}' cities in other parts of the country. When three colors are used this standard recom- mends that yellow be shown only after green and not

after red. It is established standard practice not to permit the

turning of corners on a red signal. Both right-hand

turns and left-hand turns are made on green except

under unusual circumstances, where it has been found

necessary to install a special signal for the turning

movement.

Control of lights.—Various methods of control of

traffic lights have been utilized in different cities. In some cases each intersection is individually controlled

without reference to what is being done at other intei-- sections. In other cases the controls of various intersections are synchronized so as to permit, for example,

all north and south traffic to move at one time and all east and west traffic at another. In the progressive

system it is planned that a vehicle traveling at a defi- nite speed Avill be able to proceed along a given street so as always to encounter a green signal. Such a sys- tem, by avoiding stoppages, expedites traffic and, under

the conditions where it is applicable, has usually

])roved moi'e satisfactory than the systems previously

mentioned. A coordinated system permits the ]>ro- gressive scheme to be applied to an entire system of

streets, with the color intervals at each intersection

varied to suit the particular needs of that intersection.

Cautionary luminous signals.—Luminous cautionary signals may he either fixed or flashing lights.

Fixed lights should always be yellow in color, and

flashing lights should be _yellow except where the

flashing light is intended to have the meaning of a stop sign ; that is, to indicate “ Stop ” and then “ Go.”

In this case the flashing light may be red. Nonluminous signs.-—The Joint Board on Interstate Highways Avorked out a system of painted sign Avhich

has many meritorious features and Avhich has been ac- ce])ted by the American Association of State IligliAvay

Officials. This system has been largely apjilied upon Stale

higliAvays throughout the country and especiallj' ni)on

those receiving Federal aid. The signs are applicable

also for municipal pui’))Oses in reduced sizes. Uii-ee

fundamental feature of these signs are .shape, color,

and lettei'ing. They luiA'e been included in the manual

adopted by the National Conference on Street and
342 COMMERCIAL, STANDARDS MONTHLY MAY. 1932

Highway Safety. The use of symbols in place of, or in addition to, lettering is very desirable when

simple symbols can be used whose meaning is obvious.

Shape of signs. —Rectangular signs are used to carry

directions, information, and restrictions.

Square signs are used to indicate a condition re- quiring caution that is not inherent in the road itself,

but due to conditions which may be intermittent and

which arise from the presence of cross roads, buildings, or other objects.

The circular sign is used as an advance warning of

approach to a railroad grade crossing.

Diamond signs are used to indicate a condition re- quiring caution and I’estricted speed which is inherent

in the road itself. Octagonal signs are used to indicate that stop is necessary. A sign in the shape of a shield is used as a throughroute marker.

Color of signs.-—All directional, informational, and

restrictive signs, including route markers, carry black

lettering on a white background.

All cautionary signs carry black lettering upon a yellow background.

INTERNATIONAL MEETING OF SECRETARIES

OF STANDARDIZING AGENCIES PLANNED

FOR MAY AND JUNE OF THIS YEAR

The American Standards Association, as a member

body of the International Standards Association, has

been informed that the next conference of secretaries

of national standardizing bodies and a series of meetings on technical subjects will be held in Milan, Italy,

from May 30 to June 8, 1932.

Included in the list of technical discussions to come

before the meeting are the following: Center heights

of shafts, specifications for iron and steel, shaft ends

and shafting keys, testing sieves, ball and roller bearings, fluid meters, preferred numbers, cutting tools (more particularly twist drills), widths across flats of bolt heads and nuts, aeronautics, automobile parts,

and agricultural machines.

The prime purpose of international cooperation is the promotion of uniformity among national standards in the general industrial field where this appears

feasible and desirable. It also acts as a medium for

the systematic exchange of information on standardization accomplished or in the course of development

in the various countries affiliated. The American

Standards Association exchanges information with

other national bodies regarding new projects, draft

standards and revision of those already in existence.

NORWAY’S STANDARDIZATION REPORT FOR

1931 ISSUED BY ASSOCIATION

Norway’s Standardization Association has issued its report for 1931, the outstanding points of which re- late to new plans of organization, finances, and program of work, according to information received from

United States Trade Commissioner Gudrun Carlson,

at Oslo, Norway.

The original committee to study standardization, ap- pointed on October 5, 1923, wjR_reorganized on April

The stop sign consists of red letters upon a yellow

background.

Reflecting signs. —A definite field of usefulness ap- pears to be open to the reflecting sign; that is, one which carries plain or colored glass button inserts

which reflect the light from automobile headlamps to the automobile driver. This glass may be yellow or red to convey the message indicated by those colors, or white glass in the form of lettering may be mounted

on a sign which is painted to give a background of the

appropriate color. For example, one form of such a sign reflects the letters “ Stop ” from a sign with red

background. In another form the body of the sign

consists of red reflective glass, no wording being

applied.

Safety zones.-—Safety zones which are only indicated by pavement markings are sometimes difficult to perceive at night; and to be entirely safe it seems

necessary to use a raised platform with appropriate

illumination and cautionary lights. These lights in

the accepted scheme are yellow, not red, and there

should be at least two lamps used, so that a single

burn-out of a lamp will not leave the obstruction in

darkness. This statement is also applicable to the

mushroom buttons, where they are used.

13, 1931, and now operates as an association under the name of Norges Standardisering Forbund. The new

group is composed of members representing the same

institutions or concerns who were represented in the

first committee, and by new members who may be voted

in according to the regulations approved for the association. The members elect a board under whose control the office of the association functions. The actual

work on standardization is to be carried on as in the

past, by committees selected according to the subject

to be undertaken.

In connection with the standardization work, the

Norway Industrial Association and the Norwegian

Engineers Society on February 24, 1932, began a series of lectures and discussions, which were supplemented

by visits to local plants and factories. These lectures

have been well I’eceived by the various interested

groups.

TEXTILE AWARDS TO ENCOURAGE

RESEARCH WORK

Awards of 16 research fellowships and 4 scholarships to promote scientific knowledge and advancement in the textile industries has been announced by

the Textile Foundation. This foundation, of which

the Secretaries of Commerce and Agriculture are members, was established about two years ago by

Congress to foster research looking to the improvement of the textile industry. It is the custodian of

funds which accrued from the marketing of German

dyes during the World War, and which were ear- marked at that time for the purpose for which they

are now being used.

“ Not only will the research develop a new reservoir

of scientific knowledge and talent,” it is pointed out,

“ but it will also advance the possibility of finding

significant new developments.”

The broad purpose impulsing this far-reaching program is to build up and develop a body of research-
MAY, 1032 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 343

trained individuals who, although engaged in scientific fields, will at the same time be working and thinking in terms of textile fiber and material development. Producers and manufacturers have a growing

appreciation of the indispensible partnership between

research and the ever-changing technique of production, and will welcome this new reservoir of scientific knowledge and talent. Then again, it is possible that

during the course of the contemplated studies something quite new may be developed having implications

of tremendous significance.

The Textile Foundation, with headquarters in

Washington, D. C., began its operations in the fall of 1930, and was created to engage in scientific and

economic research for the benefit and development of

the textile industry, including the production of raw

materials.

DIAMOND CORE-DRILL FITTINGS

In accordance with recommendations of the standing committee, composed of recognized producers and

users of diamond core-drill fittings, appointed by the

general conference of May 27, 1929, the Department

of Commerce has submitted for approval of the in- dustry a proposed revision of Commercial Standard

CS17-30, Diamond Core-Drill Fittings.

The proposed revision is based upon new tolerances

adopted by the Diamond Core Drill Manufacturers

Association in order to provide for interchangeability of mating parts.

In general, the changes constitute minor refinements

which have developed as a result of experience with

the standards and which do not change the important

nominal dimensions.

Copies of this proposed revision may be obtained,

without charge, from the division of trade standards.

Bureau of Standards, Washington, D. C.

IDENTIFICATION OF SIMPLIFIED LINES IN

TRADE PUBLICATIONS

All of the manufacturers of clay tiles for floors and

walls who have accepted the simplified practice rec- ommendation for this commodity, have expressed

their intention to identify the simplified lines in their new catalogues and trade lists, according to information received by the Bureau of Standards.

This procedure is designed to assist users of clay

tiles for floors and walls in maintaining close adherence to the waste elimination program, as developed

by industry under the auspices and procedure of the

Bureau of Standards. Cooperation by architects, engineers, contractors, purchasing agents, and other

users greatly increases the benefits and economies

possible through simplified practice. The clay-tile in- dustry is the second to record a 100 per cent identifi- cation in catalogues.

The National Association of Purchasing Agents,

the American Institute of Architects, the Associated

General Contractors of America, the National Electric

Light Association, the American Gas Association, the

American Home Economics Association, the ]?urchases and Stores Division of the American Railway

Association, the National Retail Dry Goods Association, and other representative users of simplified commodities have for some time strongly urged that such

a polic}'^ be adopted by manufacturers. When the

simplified items are so identified in trade literature,

their selection can be made without difficulty, and

often much waste now incurred in checking files and

auxiliary records for this information is eliminated.

HOSPITAL RUBBER SHEETING

Industry has accepted a recommended commercial

standard for hospital rubber sheeting, to become ef- fective June 1, 1932.

This specification was drafted by the American

Hospital Association in cooperation with the Rubber

Manufacturers Association and circulated on February 4. Rubber content, tensile strength, and dimensional requirements are covered, as well as labeling

and certification to buyers. It follows very closely

the Federal specification for this commodity, and

conformance will require no change in manufacturing

methods on the part of those producers who are supplying the Federal Government.

PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE ON ELECTRICAL

STANDARDS

Two publications recently issued by the Underwriters’ Laboratories relate to standards for Edison base

lamp holders and attachment plugs and receptacles.

The announcement of these publications discloses the

fact that formal standards are now available for these

long-established classifications, although requirements

in other forms have existed for a long time.

In the case of lamp holders in particular, which

have been known for many years as sockets and receptacles, the devices are some of the very oldest which

are known to the electrical industry—dating back to Edison’s introduction of the incandescent electric

lamp. Attachment plugs and receptacles, commonly

known also as caps and convenience outlets, are of

much more recent development, although they have

been recognized by the National Electrical Code and

by the Underwriters’ Laboratories for many years. The standard for Edison base lamp holders has been

built up around the modern product, although it contains many items relating to long-established practice

in the manufacture of these devices. The earlier re- quirements for the construction and test of lamp

holders were included in the National Electrical Code,

but these were discontinued in detail after the edition

of 1915. The present standard is based to a large extent upon the requirements of the National Electrical Code, but has been amplified and extended to include features of current production. The standard

includes sections on definitions, materials, inclosures,

linings, interiors, assembly, special features, rating,

performance, and marking. Among the newer fea- tures are test requirements for lamp holder linings

and pull and tortion tests for screw shells. The standard for attachment plugs and receptacles

follows the general form and arrangement of the lamp

holder standard and includes sections on definitions,

general requirements, attachment plugs, cord connectors, receptacles, current taps, overload tests, rating,

and marking. Among the newer featui’es are definite

]-equirements for the identification of terminals in

the ca.se of polarized devices, and requirements for

moulded rubber attachment plugs.
344 COMMERCIAL, STANDARDS MONTHLY MAY, 1932

Each of these standards contains a brief section describing the laboratories’ reexamination service under which devices in both classifications are listed. KNIT-UNDERWEAR STANDARD PUBLISHED

BY BUREAU

The commercial standard for knit underwear, ex- clusive of rayon, just published by the Bureau of

Standards, represents the combined efi'orts of manufacturers, distributors, and users of knit underwear

to establish satisfactory measurements for this commodity.

The specifications and measurements embraced in this pamphlet cover the method of measuring and

measurements for boys’ flat knit and ribbed drawers,

flat knit athletic and ribbed union suits, flat knit athletic shirts, children’s flat knit and ribbed union suits,

flat and ribbed knit cotton pants, sleeping garments,

and vests; infants’ bands and double-breasted or button front shirts; men's drawers, flat and ribbed knit

athletic, polo, and pullover shirts, fleece ribbed and flat knit union suits; women’s knee length ribbed drawers,

]‘ibbed union suits, ribbed cotton shaped vests and

shoulder straps; box sizes; methods of washing wool

aiid wool-cotton knit underwear ; and a recommended

system whereby the number of single yarn can be

recognized by the color of the cone. The standard further includes a list of official ac- ceptors, a condensed report of the general conference,

and the membership of the standing committee ap-

]iointed to review suggestions and efi'ect a devision of

tlie standard when necessary to keep it abreast Avith progress of the industry.

The chief purpose in establishing the commercial

standard is to provide standard measurements and

methods of measuring that represent the mutual un- derstanding of the entire industry ; that will be sufficiently broad and clear to insure the manufacturer

the necessary data for producing any garment that

he may be called upon to make, and that will provide

the retailer or user with a basis on which to inu'chase.

Copies of this standard may be obtained from the

Superintendent of Docnmeuts, Government Piinting

Office. Washington, D. C., for 1.5 cents each.

TRUTH IN BEEF THROUGH GRADING AND

STAMPING

The “ truth-in-beef ” movement is groAving, the

U. S. Department of Agriculture reports. From Jidy

to December, 1931, representatiA^es of the department

graded and stamped 80,381,045 pounds of beef, or an

increase of 46,190,568 pounds as compared with the same period in 1930. In January this year, 13,642,303

jioimds of beef Avere graded and stamped, Avhich is 71.4

per cent more than the quantity thus certified in January, 1931.

The greatest gains in January were made in Chicago, Detroit, Buffalo, Kansas City, St. Louis, Washington, Philadelphia, and NeAV York, Avhere an in- creasing number of consumers are demanding of re- tailers the authoritative certification of their beef for

quality. The department reports that Avith GoA^ernment beef graders stationed at Boston, NeAV York,

Philadelphia, Washington, Buffalo, Erie, Detroit, Chicago, Sioux City, Omaha, Kansas City, St. Louis, and

National Stock Yards, Government graded and

stamped beef is available on demand through local meat distributors to practically every retail meat

dealer east of the Rocky Mountains.

The department has developed a neAV roller stamp,

much smaller in size than the one formerly used, for use by all official graders in impressing upon the beef

the official designation of quality. The sides of beef

are stamped in such manner that the U. S. grade

appears on each retail cut. The service is aimed also

at improving the economic position of the livestock in- dustry through stimulating a demand for high quality

products. Many packers who consistently use the

tlepartment’s service declare that it has opened up

to them larger selling areas Avhere they Avere formerly unable to compete satisfactorily AAuth established beef-selling agencies.

SIMPLIFICATION OF FLAX AND HEMP TWINE

BEFORE INDUSTRY FOR ACCEPTANCE

The simplified practice recommendation coA^ering

flax and hemp tAvine has been mailed by the Bureau

of Standards to all interests in the industry for their

consideration and Avritten approval.

The recommendation provides for numbers, ply,

yardage, ]Dut-ups, and constructions of fine finished

and fine unfinished hemp twine, and fine unfinished

flax tAvine. A standing committee to sponsor the rec- ommendation composed of representatives of all ele- ments in the industry, Avas authorized by the general conference that approved the proposed recom- mendation.

The recommendation Avill become effective one

montli folloAving the announcement by the Bureau of

Standards that the re(juired degree of support has

been received.

CONCRETE BUILDING UNITS

•The proposed revision of Simplified Practice Recommendation No. 32, covering concrete building units,

has been mailed by the Bureau of Standards to all interests in the industry for their consideration and

Avritten approval.

The revised I'ecommendation, Avhich is concerned

Avitli the Avidth, lieight, and length of concrete block,

tile, and brick, Avas formulated by the standing committee of the industry at a recent meeting. It is at the request of the committee that the revised draft

has been circulated for approval.

The reAused recommendation will be effective one month following the formal announcement on the part

of the Bureau of Standards that the required degree

of acceptance has been receiA^ed. HARD FIBER TWINES

The required degree of acceptance has been ac- corded the revised Simplified Practice Recommendation R92-32, entitled “Hard Fiber Trvines,” and it is to be considered as in effect as of May 10, 1932, the

Bureau of Standards announced on April 21. The recommendation provides for nomenclature,

ply, number of feet per pound, tensile strength, and

put-ups of classes 1 and 2, laid and twisted hard fiber twines (ply and yarn goods) including lath yarns. The original simplified schedule as proposed and

developed by the industry has been in operation for

the past four and one-half years.
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

R. P. LAMONX, Secretary BUREAU OF STANDARDS

GEORGE K. BURGESS, Director

nnouncing the?S[ew

STANDARDS YEARBOOK, 1932

Prepared annually by the BUREAU OF STANDARDS, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

400 pages, bound in blue buckram

DO NOT FAIh TO READ

Symposium on Standardization in Communication

(CHAPTER I) HE STANDARDS YEARBOOK for 1932

is full of suggestion and data for all engaged in standardisation. The many aspects

of the subject call for a concise summary for

busy men who need

to keep in touch with

the latest advances in. the standards field. The

Standards Yearbook is designed to meet this

need.

To the interest taken

by several departments

of the Federal Govern^

ment in simplification

and Standardisation, a

special chapter is de^

voted.

The Yearbook includes summaries of

important national and

international standardisation activities and accomplishments of the

Government standardising laboratories of

“ Let us raise a standard to which the wise

and the honest can repair.” —WASHINGTONEngland, France, Germany, Canada, Japan,

and of the Bureau of Standards of the United

States. Another chapter is devoted to the standardisation activities of

American technical

societies and trade associations.

An abstract of the

work in standardisation

conducted 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

standardisation.

The Standards Yearbook should be in the

personal library of all engaged in work on

standards, or concerned with its application.

CONTENTS

Chapter

I. Standardixation in communication—

symposium.

II. International standardizing agencies.

III. National governmental standardizing

laboratories. IV. N a t i o n al industrial standardizing

bodies. V. Federal standardizing agencies. VI. National Bureau of Standards.

VII. Municipal, county, and State purchasing agencies. VIII. General standardizing agencies, U.S.A.

IX. Standardizing activities of technical

societies and trade associations. X. Index.

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order. New York draft, or cash—at the sender’s risk. It is important

to follow these directions explicitly to avoid delay and confusion. This order blank is for your convenience.

Superintendent of Documents,

U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. There is inclosed $ , for which please send me the following

periodicals mar\ed ^ , listed helow, at the prices indicated ;

Periodicals

Prices Amount

inclosed Domestic Foreign

Standards Yearbook, 1932

(Miscellaneous Publication 133) Bureau of Standards Journal of Research.

(Yearly subscription)

Technical News Bulletin

(Yearly subscription)

Commercial Standards Monthly

(Yearly subscription)

$1.00

3.00

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1.00

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SCIE7\[TIFIC, TECH7\[ICAL, A7\[D COMMERCIAL

PERIODICAL PUBLICATIOJ^S ISSUED BY

THE BUREAU OF STAJ^DARDS

BUREAU OF STANDARDS

JOURNAL OF RESEARCH

The new Journal describes the bureau’s re- search results in science and technology. The

union of science and its applications in one

journal shortens the lag between discovery

and application.

All engaged in industry and commerce should

have available for current use and permanent

reference the Bureau of Standards Journal of

Research.

Early in its fir^t year the Journal developed a

liil of paid subscribers double the anticipated

maximum.

This Journal is full of interest to executives

and technicians controlling industries and

commercial enterprises. It enables them bet- ter to promote efficiency by determining the

scientific measured controls ofprocess through

experimental and theoretical research.

TECHNICAL NEWS BULLETIN

The Bureau of Standards periodical with a WAR RECORD! Started during the dark

days of 1917 to keep the Army and Navy and

other branches of the Government informed

of progress in scientific war research at the

bureau. Upon urgent request this publication was continued and expanded to serve the

Government, science, and industry.

The TECHNICAL NEWS BULLETIN will

keep you informed of current progress in the

scientific and technical work of the bureau’s

laboratories, and gives each month a li^l of

the publications of the bureau. A complete

cross index is published with the December

issue.

You can not afford to be without the TECHNICAL NEWS BULLETIN. Every article is short and to the point. The busiest executive can afford the time to read it. Issued monthly

Subscription price, $3 per year

COMMERCIAL STANDARDS

MONTHLY

Issued monthly

Subscription price, 25 cents per year

STANDARDS YEARBOOK

FOR 1932

This new governmental periodical is a review

of progress in commercial simplification and

ffandardiz,ation. It is the only journal of its kind. It covers the national movement initiated by President Hoover for the reduction

of needless siz;es and varieties of producTts and

the promotion of voluntary commercial

ffandardization by induffry.

The Secretary of Commerce in the firff issue

of this new journal said: “Certain standards,

such as those used for weights and measures,

* * * have been fixed by legislative enactment. Mandatory standards of this character, however, are few in number when compared with the large and steadily growing

volume of ffandards developed by induffry

and commerce and voluntarily maintained.

* * * The activities of the Commercial

Standardization Group of the Bureau of

Standards are concerned with standards

adopted by voluntary agreement.’’

Subscription price, $1 per year

The new Standards Yearbook for 1932 is the

sixth 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, $1 ORDER AT ONCE

“Standardization is becoming an aspect of all well' ordered activity rather than an incidental

activity supplemental to others.”

To obtain regularly the above-described monthly Periodicals send your order, with remittance, addressed: Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. Foreign prices (countries other

than the United States and its possessions, Canada, Mexico, Newfoundland, Cuba, and Republic of Panama) arc: Journal, $3.50; Bulletin, $0.40; Monthly, $1.25; Yearbook, $1.25
THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

R. P. LAMONT, Secretary of Commerce

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

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

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

of pilots; enforcement of air traffic rules; investigation of acci- dents; encouragement of municipal 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.

BUREAU OF FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC COMMERCE,

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

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

consular officers, and its distribution through weekly Commerce

Reports, bulletins, confidential circulars, the news and trade

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

cooperative offices in 65 cities. The maintenance of commodity,

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

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

publication of weekly lists of specific sales opportunities abroad. The publicity of statistics on imports and exports. The study of the processes of domestic trade and commerce. BUREAU OF STANDARDS, 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 seamenSupervision of registering, enrolling, licensing, numbering,

etc., of vessels under the United States flag, and the annual

publication of a list of such vessels. Enforcement of the navigation and steamboat inspection laws, including imposition of fees, fines, tonnage taxes, etc. STEAMBOAT INSPECTION SERVICE, Dickerson N. Hoover,

Supervising Inspector General. The inspection of merchant vessels, including boilers, hulls, and life-saving equipment, licensing of officers of vessels, certifi- cation of able seamen and lifeboat men, and the investigation of violations of steamboat inspection laws. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE, Thomas E. Robertson,

Commissioner.

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

prints, and labels after technical examination and judicial

proceedings.

Maintenance of library with public search room, containing

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

and trade-marks. Furnishing copies of records pertaining to patents. Publication of the weekly Official Gazette, showing the patents and trade-marks issued. RADIO DIVISION, W. D. Terrell, Chief. Inspection of radio stations on ships; inspection of radio

stations on shore, including broadcasting stations; licensing radio operators; assigning station call letters; enforcing the terms of the International Radiotelegraphic Convention; and

examining and settling international radio accounts.

U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1932