DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

WASHINGTON D. C

MONTHLY NEWS BULLETIN

Of

COMMERCIAL STANDARDS GROUP, BUREAU OF STANDARDS

November 15 th . 1528 S. F. TILLMAN. Ed itor No. 44.

R M. Hudson - Assistant Director in Charge

E. W. Ely - Division of Simplified Practice

I. J. Fairchild - Commercial Standards Unit

A. S. McAllister - Division of Specifications

A, V, Bouillon - American Marine Standards Committee,

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Paragraphs

Aircraft Needs Standardization 29

Austrian Needs Simpli fication 31

Benefits of Automotive Standardization, .20 California Fruit Surplus to be Used. ... 7

Cause for Loss of Trade by Retail

Stores Investigated 15

Color Standardization 3

Consumer Service 19

Cotton Utilization Exhibit 12

Crockett Now on S P. Committee 38

Effect Saving in Stationery 32

Freight Car Standards 5 Grade-Marking of Lumber Bulletin 18

Hand-to-Mouth Buying 16

Hides and Skins Grade Standards to

be Developed. .. ... 14

Inventory Reduced., 28

Japanese Interest 34

Motor Fuel From Coal. 9 New German Product 25

New Bulletins 37

Plant Location is Scientific 33

Progressive Obsolescence 1 Recent Activities of the Commercial

Standards Group 45

Paragraphs

Retail Profits Through Stock

Control 11 Road to Business Prosperity 26

Saves $34,105,122 . 23

Savings from Standardization 35

Simplified Invoice League .2 Standard Catalog 42

Standardization and Simplification in New England 40

Standardized Method of

Measuring Gas Flow 4 Standards For Tool Steels. . 30

Steel Direct From Ore 2A Swedish Simplification...., 4}

Synthetic Lumber From Cornstalks 8 Transparency of Different Fabrics 13

"The Cost of Comfort" 16

Thirty-Seven Standards Adopted. 22

Uniform Traffic Code 6

Unified Traffic Control 39

Urges Support to Simplified

Practice 36

What's Back of Demand 27

Wholesalers Take Up Cash-And-Carry

Idea 10

Would Standardize Truck Wheel Anglos 23

ADDRESS INQUIRIES TO "COMMERCIAL STANDARDS"

ROOM 316 COMMERCE BUILDING

WASHINGTON. D C. REQUEST YOUR VENDORS TO BILL YOU ON THE SIMPLIFIED INVOICE FORM
Monthly News Bulletin No. 44 -—2

PROGRESSIVE OBSOLESCENCE

Ray M. Hudson. Assistant Director, Comae rciai Standards.

The sales manager's job is to extend markets and build up volume. The ways by which he

achieves these ends are many. More advertising, more salesmen, more outlets for the product

are commonly expected to produce these results.

As competition increases, price-cutting occurs, until the craze for volume swells sales

expenses increases distribution costs, and reduces profits even though the factory be operating at capacity. In cases where factory capacity is in excess of current sales volume,

pressure for greater volume becomes acute, and greater effort is made to secure It. Ne» ideas in selling develop.

Among recent proposals is "progressive obsolescence", meaning the quickening ex' sales

by inducing people, who can afford it, to buy a greater variety of goods on the same principle such people now buy autos, radios, and clothes, i.e., "not to wear out but to trade in or discard after a short time, when new and mere attractive goods cr medals come out." While

some stimulation of obsolescence is not uneconomic:, the danger lies in its probable application to buyers who can not afford it ar.d who might better put more of their income into more permanent investments. That uncontrolled obsolescence has great potentialities for

economic waste and loss is obvious. Too high a frequency of purchase is relatively as wasteful for the consumer as toe high a frequency in change of design, size, style or model is

for the manufacturer and the merchant.

Against such blind grasping for volume are intelligent market analysis; simplification

of product to lines in most constant demand; concentration of production and selling effort

on the simplified line; reduction of manufacturing and selling cost and consistent reduction

in price to the consumer, improvement in quality through scientific research; orderly re- vamping of product based on intelligent analysis of consumer wants, trends in taste., and

ability to buy; the searching out of new uses for, or applications of, the product; and advertising that reckons with all of these matters.

Extra volume secured through these latter avenues as bound to be more permanent and

profitable than that gained through forced obsolescence.

2. SIMPLIFIED INVOICE LEAGUE. Reports from August 31 to October 30, 192S from various firms

on the extent to which their incosing invoices conform to the SIMPLIFIED INVOICE

FORM are as follows:

COMPANY PERIOD INVOICES ON SIMPLIFIED PER CENT

CHECKED FORM OF ADHERENCE

festinghouse Electric and

Manufacturing Company,

East Pittsburgh, fenna. —— ~— 60,00

(Approx.

.

Barber Greene Company,

Aurora, Illinois 13 day* 545 165 60.26
Monthly News Bulletin No. 44 —3

COMPANY PERIOD INVOICES ON SIMPLIFIED PER CENT

CHECKED FORM OF ADHERENCE

American Beet Sugar Co.,

Denver, Colorado. 30.00

(Approx )

Refinery Supply Company

Tulsa. Oklahoma 6 days 96 14 14.59

Philadelphia Company.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 5.00

(Approx .

)

It is our intention to publish in each issue of this bulletin statistics of

the above nature. We invite all firms to review their incoming invoices over a period of ten to fifteen days and then inform us as to the number which conform

in all respects to the SIMPLIFIED INVOICE FORM. Invoices which only partly conform to this standard sho uld no t be counted. If you are not already familiar

with this project, please write us and we will send you any information, at our disposal .

3. COLOR STANDARDIZATION. An overwhelming vote of more than two to one in favor of color

in the kitchen was the outstanding result of the canvass recently conducted by

the HOUSE FURNISHING REVIEW. One hundred and twenty-five questionnaires were sent out. The answers of the buyers to the question, "Should buyers and manu- facturers act together to adopt a color standard, and how would you suggest that

this be done?" offered a good index of the need for some definite move for standardization of colors. Ninety-nine of the 125 voted in favor of standardizing

colors, as compared with three opposed to that step.

4. STANDARDIZED METHOD OF MEASURING GAS FLOW. Means of standardizing the methods of meas- uring the open flow from natural gas wells is the subject of a study just completed

and made public by the Bureau of Mines of the Department of Commerce. The open

flow of a well is the volume or quantity of gas. measured under standard con- ditions, that a well will produce when open to the atmosphere. There are several methods used for determining the open flow of wells; some me thods are mo re suitable under certain conditions than others. As a result of the tests made by

the Bureau of Mines, in the Chickasha. Oklahoma, gas field, the following con- clusions were drawn:

Until further experiments have proved otherwise, a standard length of well-head

nipple should be adopted. Possibly a nipple 10 or 20 feet in length would give more accurate results, but its use in the field would not be practical. The general adoption of a uniform short length would be equitable to all. and the taking

of open flows certainly would be simplified.

5. FREIGHT CAR STANDARDS. Standard Railway cars have been designed for India by the railway

board of that country, in cooperation with the carriage and wagon standards com-*’" mittee which was appointed in 1924 to revise the existing designs prepared in

1921. More than twenty years age the locomotive and carriage superintendents'
Monthly News Bulletin No. 44 —4

committee, which may be regarded as the parent of the existing carriage and wagon

standards committee, put forward proposals to standardize certain details of

Indian railway rolling stock. Later on. these proposals were extended to the

preparation of standard designs for certain types of broad-gauge and meter-gauge

cars and carriage underframes, and this work was intrusted to a sub-committee

of the locomotive and carriage superintendents’ committee, which commenced work

in 1919 under the Indian Railway Conference Association. In 1921 the existing designs were revised and certain others were prepared; these designs are known

as the I, R. C. A, designs.

6. UNIFORM TRAFFIC CODE, The uniform traffic code worked out by the State Traffic Commission became effective throughout New Jersey, September 1, 1928, New Jersey

is said to be the first State in which every regulation, signal, and marker pertaining to traffic, in city or country, is uniform, and engineers and traffic

authorities throughout the country are reported to be watching the experiment

with keen interest.

Traffic signals may no longer be located in the center of the street, but must

be placed at the nearest points conveying the message of direction, "Jay Walking" is made a misdemeanor. Coasting with clutch out or gears in neutral is

prohibited. Stop signs are yellow, with red. lettering, and slow and caution

signs yellow, with black lettering. Direction, information, restriction, oneway and detour signs are white, with black lettering. Automobile trucks outside

of business or residential districts are prohibited from following each other at intervals of less than 100 feet. Speed limits are liberalized by the new code,

and the smooth and safe flow of traffic will depend upon the working of the new regulations

.

Although the new code differs in a few respects from the model municipal traffic

ordinance issued August 1, 1928, by the National Conference on Street and Highway

Safety, it is the hope of the National Conference that other legislative bodies

will follow the example of the New Jersey Legislature in adopting without

change an ordinance prepared by experts, thus promoting uniformity in traffic

regulations throughout the country.

7. CALIFORNIA FRUIT SURPLUS TO BE USED. The claim has been made that the threatened over- production of raisins, grapes and peaches in the San Joaquin and Sacremento

Valleys may be turned to profit by adopting scientific methods for disposing of

all waste products and the surplus. A plan is said to be under consideration for

the construction of several plants of sufficient capacity to turn all of the

waste and surplus products into commercial alcohol, carbonic-acid gas, and other

by-products .

8. SYNTHETIC LUMBER FROM CORNSTALKS . Synthetic lumber manufacture may not depend in future

on saw-mill waste, if plans to utilize cornstalks for this purpose as well as for

insulating board and paper pulp are consummated. The possibility is said to have

been demonstrated within the past year of collecting cornstalks for the purpose

at a cost comparable with that of other materials, which would appear to open up

a wide outlet for the utilization of this important by-product.

3. MOTOR FUEL FROM COAL. Active investigations to develop primary and secondary sources of

motor fuel against the future declining period of petroleum production are re- ported by the Bureau of Minas t« bav<* gone steadily forward with noteworthy

practical achievements. The Bergius process for hydrogenation and liquefaction
Monthly Nev/s Bulletin No. 44 —5—

of coal converts coal into crude low-grade oil from which, by further refining

methods similar to those used in the petroleum industry, gasoline, kerosene.

Diesel-engine fuel oil, and pitch are obtained. A parallel development has been

the conversion of coal into gasoline substitutes by catalytic methods, by way of

complete gasification of coal or coke with subsequent conversion of this gas

into alcohol or hydrocarbons. The Bergius process gives a yield of 140 U. S. gallons of refined products per short ton of typical gas-flame coal of 6 per cent

ash, made up of 48 gallons of motor fuel, 54 gallons of Diesel-engine and cre- osote oils, 16 gallons of lubricating oil, and 22 gallons of fuel oil. Several

companies in this country have successfully developed the commercial manufacture

of methanol from coal for American needs for solvent and chemical purposes . Although methanol is inferior to gasoline for motor fuel it is stated that it can

be so used. It is predicted that the next five or ten years will show much advance both in direct hydrogenation of coal and in the hydrogenation of carbon

monoxide

10. WHOLESALERS TAKE UP CA-H-AND-CARRY IDEA.- Wholesale grocery houses in various parts of

the country are conducting at least part of their business on a cash-and-carry

basis. One suchfirm in Portland, Oregon, is reported to operate on a 7 per cent

over cost basis. Credit is given only to a preferred list of customers who are compelled to pay weekly. The firm maintains one list price to everyone and

charges from 25 cents to $2 for delivery of orders under $100. Sometimes a cash-and-carry department is maintained as a supplement to the regular jobbing

business. In other cases, the same firm operates a wholesale grocery service

house and a cash-and-carry house under separate names.

11. RETAIL PROFITS THROUGH STOCK CONTROL. - Many systems of stock control have been developed

as a means of securing a balanced inventory and thereby a profitable stock turn. Some have found, however, that the stock control systems recommended either re- quired so much additional labor to carry out or were so complex as to defy understanding, and, so, practically as great a source of concern as a haphazard inventory. Here is one solution of the problem. "Retail Profits Through Stock

Control". This 11-page printed publication, prepared by the Domestic Commerce

Division, Department of Commerce, for free distribution, describes a stock control system so simple as to be understood and installed by any business man with

little or no additional clerk hire.

As for effectiveness of the plan, it need only be said that the store using it

decreased the number of items carried by 32 per cent, reduced the capital invested in stock by 8 per cent, and increased its volume of sales by 20 per cent.

What is more, the store's dollar profits were increased 50 per cent. The inventory reduction was not accomplished all at once or once for all. It was done as the control system showed that certain items were too slow-moving or otherwise

unprofitable to handle. The capital thus released was used to experiment with

new lines, but all with the purpose of finally having an inventory properly re- lated to sales volume and including just those items which had demonstrated their success on the consumer market.

In the preceding distribution cost study released by the Department , "Analyzing

Retail Selling Costs", it was found that in a Company operating stores in four

large cities 33 per cent of the sales person's time was idle, 17 per cent was devoted to stock care, 8 per cent to interviews, and only 42 per cent to actual
Monthly News Bulletin No. 44 —6

sales. Since somewhat similar conditions probably prevail in other stores, it seems possible that the idle time found in this study could well be utilized

to operate a stock control plan such as that described in "Retail Profits Through

Stock Control".

12. COTTON UTILIZATION EXHIBIT. - An exhibit of the utilization of cotton fiber and seed,

covering hundreds of manufactured commodities, was a feature of the National

Cotton show held at Memphis, October 13 to 20. The exhibit was prepared by the

Department of Agriculture with the assistance of the Department of Commerce,

and the Cotton Textile Institute.

The Utilization of cotton seed and of cotton linters is shown in hundreds of products from animal feeds to cellophane, the new transparent covering for fruits

and vegetables and candy boxes. The various ways and places where cotton enters

the manufacture of motor cars is demonstrated, about 35 pounds of cotton being

used on the average in each automobile in the manufacture of tires, seat cushions

and covers, tops and other parts. New fabrics and dress designs intended to in- crease cotton consumption form part of the exhibit, and products of cotton linters such as paints, mattresses, felting, cellulose, explosives, and other commodities are shown. The suitability of cotton bagging for cotton bale covering is

demonstrated by the exhibition of bales which have received twice the handling

usual in international trade, on which the cotton covering is reported to be in

first class condition.

13. TRANSPARENCY OF DIFFERENT FABRICS. - Tests recently made by the Bureau of Standards

show that the amount of ultraviolet radiation transmitted by fabrics made from

various kinds of thread, cotton silk, wool, linen, and rayon, differs considerably. Measurements were made on close-weave and open-weave cloth. The results

of the research demonstrate the superiority of bleached white material for high

transmission of ultraviolet rays through the thread. A slight yellowing of the

natural silk or the yellow color of unbleached cotton greatly reduces the transparency to the ultraviolet rays as do most of th® dyes in common use. Of dyed

fabrics, th© one having an open weave transmits the most ultraviolet, irrespective of the composition of the thread. White cotton, viscos® and cellulose

acetate rayon and linen, are the most transparent to ultraviolet rays. Natural

silk not yellowed with age stands a close second. Woolen fabrics are only about

one-half as transparent to ultraviolet solar rays as white cotton.

14. HIDES AND SKINS GRADE STANDARDS TO BE DEVELOPED. The lack of uniform methods in the

hide and leather industry of selecting, grading, marketing, and receiving hides

and skins has led the Bureau of Agricultural Economics, United States Department

of Agriculture, to undertake the development of Standardized grades. It has been

an established trade practice to market hides and skins as "New England" , New York

State", "Middle West", "Northwestern", "Northern-Southern", "Central Southern",

"Far South", etc. As a Matter of fact there are many different grades, takeoffs, cures and methods of delivering, for hides cosing fro® each of these areas Furthermore, one inspector may call a hide or skin No. 1 grade, while

another inspector may call it No 2. With fixed standards accepted by all

branches of the industry much confusion and loss would be eliminated . Investigations are about to be made to determine variations in all essential characteristics of hides and skins, practical methods of measuring these variations, and

suitable grade factors for the various kinds and classes of hides and skins;

and, to formulate permissive grade standards for those commodities. Because

millions of hides and skins are imported yearly, the work of the Bureau, it is

said, will ultimately be extended to cover imported hides and skins.
Monthly News Bulletin No. 44 —7—

15. CAUSE FOR LOSS OF TRADE BY RETAIL STORES INVESTIGATED. — A survey of 200 consumers by a nationally known manufacturing and distributing company disclosed that most had

ceased to trade with certain retailers because of the indifference of sales

people and unnecessary delays in being waited upon. Other reasons given, in the

order of frequency, were attempts at substitution , errors in bills , slow deliveries, overinsistence by clerks, tactless policies, general poor management , ignorance of goods and refusal to exchange.

16.

"THE COST OF COMFORT" — How to erect a dwelling so as to insure minimum heating cost

is described in "The Cost of Comfort", a publication just issued by, and

obtainable free on request to, the National Lumber Manufacturers Association,

Transportation Building, Washington, D. C. Builders who have puzzled over the

problem of the kind of material to choose to insure winter comfort at the lowest

cost have in this handbook on the economics of dwelling insulation a manual

which treats from a scientific angle of the heat retention properties of various

materials in wall, floor, and roof construction.

The booklet is designed not only for builders, architects, and contractors but

is written in such manner that the average prospective home owner can stud;/ the

relative merits of the various materials from the point of view of insulation.

It is illustrated with more than 36 diagrams and over 90 tables showing in detail

the actual labor and material costs for various types of wall, floor, and roof

construction

The essential point of this publication is that while fuel economy can be accom- plished by various forms of wall construction, the additional charges resulting

in an increase of cost of the structure may much more than offset the fuel

saving; and that from an economic view point, at least, the simpler types of

dwelling construction may be most satisfactory.

17. "HAND-TO-MOUTH BUYING". - With a view to checking up the reported wide-spread change in

purchasing methods during the past ten years, the Institute of Economics is making a study of "hand-to-mouth buying" . Purchasing agents are being asked how

far ahead their company has been in the habit of placing orders for two of the more important commodities purchased in 1914 , 1918,1922, 1924. 1926 and 1928; what

proportion the approximate average inventory for those years has been of the

year's needs; whether there has been any important change in inventories carried

in proportion to annual requirements; whether there has been any definite improvement in the company's purchasing technique during the past five years; whether

the company is buying more frequently and in smaller quantities, and, if so, why.

18. GRADE-MARKING OF LUMBER BULLETIN. - The National Committee on Wood Utilization is advocating the marking of every piece of lumber with a stamp indicating its quality

or grade in conformity with specific standards, as a step toward better merchandising and of direct benefit to manufacturer, middleman, and consumer alike, giving assurance as to kind, quality, and standard of dimensions. The idea of

grade marking is said to have been endorsed by all of the organizations representing producers ,• distributors and users of lumber. The National Lumber Manufacturers Association is instituting a marking system whereby lumber produced

by Association members in accordance with American Lumber Standards, will be so grade-marked. It is stated that the cost of placing grade marks on each piece

of lumber is a negligible factor, amounting to only a few cents per thousand

feet, and that lumber prices are not advanced by grade marking , which has lon„ been

practiced by some lumber associations . Grade marking permits a closer utilization of timber, making the t«tal product of a tree more valuable, and is therefore expected to have an important effect on reforestation.
Monthly News Bulletin No. 44 ~-8~-

"Grade Marking of Lumber for the Consumers' Protection", issued by the National

Committee on Wood Utilization, explains the potential advantages from the general

practice of proper grade marking. It may be obtained from the Superintendent

of Documents, Government Printing Of fice , Washington, D. C., for ten cents a copy

,

19. CONSUMER SERVICE. - A certain New England Carpet company has established a consumer

service as a supplement to its national advertising. This service, comprises a home decorating department, whose advice on color, design, and harmony, of

furnishing scheme is available to any prospective user of the company's rugs and

carpets. Each inquirer is given a booklet on "Color and Design in Home Decoration" and the names of two local dealers handling the Company's products.

20. BENEFITS OF AUTOMOTIVE STANDARDIZATION. ~ No industry has been more active or produced

more standards than has the automobile industry, declared C. F. Clarkson, general

manager of the Society of Automotive Engineers, at the National aeronautic meeting of the Society in Los Angeles recently. Standardization of the right type

is in no sense stagnation; it must always be subordinate to progress and design.

Standardization does not impede necessary change, he continued, but facilitates

the making of needed changes economically . It decreases the original cost

and the cost of scrapping special designs, which must of necessity be relatively

expensive. The present condition of very satisfactory prosperity in the automobile industry is due in a large part to the action of its far-sighted pioneers,

who foresaw the advantages of standardization.

To the adoption of the standardization policy in the automotive industry is

largely due the achievement of the American car in its present internationally

dominating position. It has been estimated by a large group of engineers that

had not the standards been developed, the prioe of the automobile today would be

at least 15 per cent greater than it is. There is every reason to believe that

similar advantage can be gained by the aeronautic industry, provided the work of

standardization in its field is taken up sufficiently early in a comprehensive

way .

21. WOULD STANDARDIZE TRUCK WHEEL ANGLES. Suggestions have been made by several truck

manufacturing companies that the question of standardizing the inclination of

steering knuckle pivot pins be taken up by the standards committee of the Society

of Automotive Engineers. The desirability or otherwise of taking up this project

is now before the members of the motor truck division of the standards committee.

It is pointed out that the angle of the pivot pin controls the camber and the

caster of the front wheels and affects the toe-in. which in turn determines to a considerable extent the wear of the tire tread. Considerable experimental work

has been done by tire and vehicle makers to ascertain the best degrees of

caster, camber and toe-in of the wheels, and the first move toward standardizing these would be to gather and analyze all such data.

2£ . THIRTY-SEVEN, STANDARDS ADOPTED. All of the new standards and revisions of existing

standards in the automotive field, numbering 57, including 16 aeronautic standards, which were presented as recommendations and approved at the Summer Meeting

of the Society of Automotive Engineers at Quebec last June, have now been approved by letter ballot of the voting members of the Society.
Monthly News Bulletin No. 44 —9

Of greatest general interest is the new standard of a limited number of balloon

tires and rims. The most important new work is in the adoption of the aeronautic

standards, most of which are primarily of engineering interest only but will tend

toward a greater degree of interchangeability of parts and reduction of manufacturing cost of airplanes. Similar work on automobile standardization is con- servatively estimated to have resulted in a 15 per cent saving to the public in

the cost of all new automobiles bought annually.

23. SAVES $34,105,122.00. - Since April, 1918, the date of organizing a Salvage Branch

of the Quartermaster Corps of the Army, the sum of $34,105,122.00, has been placed

to the credit of the Treasurer of the United States from the sale of waste material. such as old metals, rubber, rags, bottles, hair, hides, etc.

24. STEEL DIRECT FROM ORE. - Research work in developing a new method of producing steel

directly from iron ore is reported contemplated by two large German firms, the

Friedrich Krupp Aktiegesellschaf t and the United Steel Works, which have recently

formed a new company for the purpose, with an official capital of 100,000 marks.

25. NEW GERMAN PRODUCT. - An entirely new fabric has recently been produced in Germany

While the exact composition of the new fabric is unknown it includes paper, a textile fabric, and one or more metals. The top surface has the appearance of

metal, but the back surface has the appearance of paper, and it may be bent or folded without cracking. The new fabric, it is reported, may also be embossed

or printed upon by ordinary printing methods and is made in a variety of colors.

It is said not to oxidize or tarnish. The new fabric is claimed to have a wide

range of uses. Thus far the principal ones suggested for its utilization are' Quality cardboards, confectionery boxes, trunk linings, fine packing for cos- metics, placards, picture frames, book binding, fancy ball shoes, stage decorations, and wallpaper,

26. ROAD TO BUSINESS PROSPERITY. That "Companionate prosperity" is the outstanding prerequisite of permanent individual prosperity, and may be achieved only through

the increased use of our new scientific methods of mass production and mass distribution, is expressed by Edward A. Filene , President of William Filene Sons

Company, in his article "The Road To Business Prosperity" which appeared in

American Stationer and Office Mananger. The prosperity induced by the scientific

practices of a comparatively few of our leading industries is not enough to counteract the harm done by the great majority of unprogressive concerns. Our

prosperity can be increased only if all of our people are provided with greater

buying power. Unfortunately, distribution has failed to keep scientific pace with

manufacture. Taking retailing as a whole, the price doubles between the ultimate consumer. This waste in distribution, conservatively estimated as between

7 and 8 billion dollars a year, is due to the large number of middlemen and re- tailers who are untrained in scientific methods of conducting a business. Until

all preventable waste in business, farming, and government is eliminated, buying

power will remain cramped and prosperity will continue ephemeral.

27. WHAT'S BACK OF DEMAND. - While the sales manager is frenziedly tearing his hair over charts and quotas, economic law is quietly determining the issue with the aid of

four fundamental principles, states Lawrence Smith. Assistant Professor of Economics. Wellesley College, in his article "What's Back of Demand" in a recent

issue of Purchasing Agent. The first of these, writes Professor Smith, is the

law of diminishing utility. Applying this principle to demand, it means that

the buyer will pay a relatively high price for a limited amount of ths cossodity but will buy larger and larger amounts only at ever-decreasing price . A second

L. —
Monthly News Bulletin No. 44 —10—

factor is the purchasing power of the consumer. People are obviously limited

in the things for which they have an effective demand by the size of their in- comes. The possibility of substitution and of stocking up for the future are likewise important market influence. In the light of these factors, it may

correctly be assumed that the number of units which buyers stand ready to buy

varies inversely as the price.

28. INVENTORY REDUCED. - Simplification reduces inventory investment and inventory discrepancies, overhead expenses, increases efficiency of workers, purchasing power,

tends to better and simplified inspection, a more accurate accounting system and

quicker deliveries,

A large utility reports these benefits after a campaign of three years on simplification and stock reduction. A standardization committee was appointed by

an operating official and consisted of one or two representatives from each department. namely light and power, railway, bus, water, and gas. with final

authority as to disposition of materials. Their purchasing Agent acted as chairman and arranged meetings at various locations, which were at least once a year

at every location, upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Materials. Minutes of the meeting were made in detail and the responsibility of simplifying,

standardizing and otherwise making disposition of materials was relegated to certain individuals wit- in the committee who reported their analysis and recom- mendations within a certain length of time. For example, there were 138 sizes

and kinds of bolts carried which were reduced thus far to app roximately 70 ; 75

sizes and kinds of iron to 49; 24 kinds of paint to 12; 13 kinds of insulators to 7;

3 sizes of alley arms to 1; standard sizes of meters and transformers were es- tablished a.nd numerous items eliminated as stock items, only to be ordered on demand .

This has resulted in reducing inventories $182,000 or 36%; inventory discrepancies from 1.9% to .4% and expenses 3S% , Items were reduced 15% with individual stockrooms showing reductions of 66% - 51% - 47%, etc., but increased operations in certain departments increased items carried in these stockrooms as high as 168% which explains the low average reduction of 16% for the entire system. Their turnover will now average 3 times a year whereas it formerly was 1,7

times a year. Employees were enabled to use the time thus gained in studying

better methods of storekeeping. The efficiency of their records increased

29%, This utilities' investment in materials as of December 31, 1927 reflects

favorably with 33 other large utilities as it ranks second lowest when compared

with plant investment and fourth lowest when compared with gross earnings. Other

large utilities have been following the same relative scheme with comparative

resul ts .

29. AIRCRAFT NEEDS STANDARDIZATION. Edward P. Warner. Assistant Secretary of t.he \avy for

Aeronautics, told the Standards Session of the Los Angeles Aeronautic Meeting

that interchangeability in the interest of ease of maintenance, of convenience

and of replacement far from home, can proceed only from mass production of standardized articles. That the airplane manufacturer, by using standardized parts,

would realize a financial saving, both as to initial cost and the labor of checking the strength of each individual part

30. STANDARDS FOR TOOL STEELS Earlier attempts to establish standards for tool steels

resulted in failure because of the unwillingness of manufacturers to submerge

the individuality of their various brands. More recently a committee of the
Monthly News Bulletin - No. 44—11

American Society for Testing Materials has made a more successful attempt to establish for tool steels some standards that do not prescribe the details of

elements as do standard specifications for other steels.

31, AUSTRIAN NEEDS SIMPLIFICATION, According to Emanuel Rusch Jr of Vienna, Austria,

whose father conducts the Textile Technical Bureau and a textile factory in

Vienna, "Austrian manufacturers have too many different articles at the same time

and change from one article to another too frequently thus bringing up the working expenses..'' In the United States, over-diversified manufacture is taken care of through simplified practice.

32, EFFECT SAVING IN STATIONERY. — A prominent West Virginia Concern finds slogans on standardization and simplification, typed on the lower edge of all inter—company

correspondence, very helpful, according to the chairman of the standardization

committee of this company The slogan just adopted is "Simplification Guards

Against Over-Investment." Slogans are changed periodically. This concentrates

the importance of this project a,s a "company policy" upon their employees and

gives them a refreshing variation of its value in a terse manner.

33, PLANT LOCATION IS SCIENTIFIC. — Much has been said in recent years concerning the possibilities of future decentralization of a number of industrial centers, editorially remarks the Iron Trade Review. During the last part of October the

industrial property division of the National Association of Real Estate Boards,

held a conference to consider the subject, and to seek how their value may be

measured and to what extent their discernment has aided in the standardization

of the industrial realtor's equipment.

34, JAPANESE INTEREST Recently Mr, S Sakura of the Economic Research Department of the

Mitsubishi Goshi Kaisha, Tokyo, Japan, visited the offices of the Division of

Simplified Practice for first hand information regarding the simplification program. Upon his return to Tokyo, his bureau wrote the Assistant Director of the

Bureau of Standards in charge of Commercial Standards Group that "while the simplification movement is now a world-wide problem, it has not yet, in actual

practice, received the same attention in Japan as elsewhere, but that the Economic Research Department was keenly alive to the importance of the problem."

35, SAVINGS FROM STANDARDIZATION. - In a recent bulletin the American Hotel Association

discusses savings from standardization that have accrued to other industries and

explains the work being done by the Hotel Committee on Standardization and Waste

Elimination. "An effort is now being made by this committee, under the chairmanship of Augustus Nulle of the Waldorf Astoria, New York, to cooperate with

the Bureau of Standards in Washington to bring about the simplification and

standardization of many items of furnishing and equipment used in Hotels," says

this report, adding, "The Department of Commerce, through contact with manufacturers and distributors of these commodities, will endeavor to bring about a cooperation of all interests in. the establishment of mutually satisfactory and

useful standards. For many years, other industries have successfully worked out standardization whereby real savings could be made in the purchase of supplies

To this end, the committee expects to assist in the preparation of a series of

articles to appear simultaneously in the hotel press, which should awaken interest among our members and should result in great benefit following experimentation and scientific investigation by the Bureau of Standards."

36 URGES SUPPORT TO SIMPLIFIED PRACTICE - Recently the Bulletin of the National Paint.

Oil, and Varnish Association, asked the question, "Why should a manufacturer adhere to the 'Limitation of Variety Recommendation' adopted some years since?" In
Monthly News Bulletin No. 44--12

.

the same issue the editors of the Bulletin answered their own question as follows •

"First, for his own good, and second, because it is the deliberate recommendation of acre than 90 per cent of the industry, after long, consideration and debate. Unprofitable colors and sizes are only a burden on the profitable lines,

which are certainly burdened enough at the best. One of the chief reasons for our national prosperity during the past five or six years has been the reduction in unprofitable and unnecessary varieties and sizes in different lines of

industry. There is a reasonable limit to everything and the industry as a whole has decided that twenty-eight shades, exclusive of white and black, will

take care of all requirements in housepaints - some important manufacturers are making fewer than that . New tints can be added to meet the changing taste of consumers; but this changing taste also makes it possible and advisable to discontinue at the same time an equal number of tints no longer in demand. It is

possible to produce about 100, CC9 different hues, tints and shades, but the line

must be drawn somewhere - why not draw it at the common-sense point?"

37. N..W BULLETINS. - Three Trade Information Bulletins have beer, released by the Bureau of

Foreign and Domestic Commerce, of the Department of Commerce as follows: #575.

"The Retailer and the Consumer in New England"; #579, "Developing the Smaller

Leather Markets"; and #580, "Budgets of European Countries, 1928, Part I - Northern and Eastern Europe," In discussing the booklet dealing with the "Re- tailer and the Consumer in New England," Dr. Julius Klein of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce said; "Application of the newer science of market

analysis and business management will largely solve the business problems that

have faced New England since the war in industries that have not adapted their

operations to the changed conditions. The basic information necessary for applying modern and scientific marketing and management is now being made available by the Department of Commerce in this new pamphlet,"

38. CROCKETT NOW ON SIMPLIFIED PRACTICE COMMITTEE , - H. G. Crockett of Scovell-Wellington

Co., has been selected to serve on the standing committee for Simplified Practice Recommendation No. 37, Commercial Forms (Simplified invoice). Mr. Crockett

succeeds Addison Boren of the National Association of Cost Accountants. Other

members of this Committee are: W. L. Chandler, representing the National Association of Purchasing Agents (Chairman) James C. Bennett, representing the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (Vice-Chairman), C. M. Finney, representing the Machinery Builders' Society, E. R. Woodson, representing the Railway Accounting Officers" Association, and Lew Hahn, representing the National

Retail Dry Goods Association.

39. UNIFIED TRAFFIC CONTROL. - Warning that some cities are making fundamental errors in

installing street traffic signs, signals and markings, is contained in the re- port of the American Engineering Council just completed as the result of a sur- vey of more than 100 cities in 35 states, in cooperation with the National Conference on Street and Highway Safety. That conference. whose special committee

on model municipal traffic ordinaacss and regulations drafted in Washington last summer a model municipal traffic ordinance, is sponsored by the Department of

Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce of the United States,

The Council's report deals with engineering phases of city traffic control, including. in standardization of devices, mechanical equipment, wording, color
Monthly News Bulletin No. 44—13.

shape location, material , illumination, stipulations with respect to curves, grades, heights, and other details.

40. STANDARDIZATION AND SIMPLIFICATION IN NEW ENGLAND. - A review of the second report in

the series on applying research to production entitled "Standardization and

Simplification," by the Research Committee of the New England Council, shows

how simplification has been applied to the products of various New England man- ufacturers .

A manufacturer of machinery for the production of steel products simplified roll

housings from 50 to 24 sizes, pinion houses from 30 to 12. conveyor tables from

25 to 6 . cooling beds from many types and sizes to 3, and sections of angle iron

from 74 to 11. One firearms company reduced their line from 18 to 8 models; an- other reduced their line from 354 to 100. A cotton and woolen manufacturing

company which formerly used 160 yarns, varying in color, material or count, now uses, in one mill, one ceunt of filling and warp, five different warps, all

from the same count of yarn . In another mill where four counts of filling were formerly used, but one is now used with one count of warp. A shoe concern which

in 1920 manufactured 2500 styles of shoes now manufactures only 100 styles. A paper manufacturer has found that hand to mouth buying is reducing the time allowed for delivery of orders, and making necessary a larger stock on hand for

immediate shipment. His line consists of 53 grades of paper, approximately 12

colors to each grade, four or five weights and various finishes. To facilitate

the keeping of adequate inventory, he is endeavoring to reduce the number of

grades and discourage the demand for special watermarks. (To be continued in

the December 15th Monthly News Bulletin)

41. SWEDISH SIMPLIFICATION A copy of the pamphlet entitled "Sloseri" (Waste) recently

issued by the Standardization Commission of the Swedish Industry has been re- ceived by the Division of Simplified Practice. This pamphlet gives a popular

review of how standardization has progressed in Sweden, and has been issued for

the General public, as well as the particular industries concerned, for the purpose of creating sentiment in favor of further development along this line.

The Division of Simplified Practice has been informed that the Swedish work has

received a great deal of encouragement from observing the work and results obtained in the United States. The Division has had a few visitors from the Scandinavian countries, as well as from other parts of Europe, and they all seemed

to be much impressed with the results of simplified practice in the United

States

42 STANDARD CATALOG. A Federal standard stock catalog is being prepared under the supervision of the Chief Coordinator of the Bureau of Budget, which will include all

of the items of supply ordinarily purchased by one or more of the Federal Departments. It marks a very important step in the effort of the Federal Government to coordinate and simplify its purchases.

The navy has had a standard stock catalog for years and throughout the navy

standardized and uniform nomenclature is used, also standard symbols or "part

numbers" and standard code words for each part or item. This has greatly facilitated the navy's procurement routine, reduced clerical work, and effected many

economies The expansion of this catalog to apply to all departments is bound

to prove a great convenience to them and undoubtedly to many manufacturers

regarded as sources of supply to the Government
Monthly News Bulletin No. 44--14.

A typical section of the Federal catalog illustrating its general make-up and

purpose is available from the Chief Coordinator, United States Bureau of the

Budget, Arlington Building, Washington, D. C. Readers of this bulletin interested should write to the Chief Coordinator for a copy.

43. RECENT ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMERCIAL STANDARDS GROUP. In the editorial of the October

Monthly News Bulletin, through a typographic error, it was stated that the direct

cost of material handling in the United States approximates $3,500,000, annually. This should have read $3,500,000,000. It was also stated that the Federal

Specifications Board was a part of the Commercial Standards Group. The Federal

Specifications Board is under the office of the Chief Coordinator of the Bureau

of the Budget.

Division of Simplified Practice

Weldeu Chain - A general conference of manufacturers, distributors and users of Welded

Chain will be held at the Department of Commerce on November 15th, 1928. Manufacturers, representing a large majority of production, have formulated a program calling for

a reduction of about one-third in the number of sizes and varieties now catalogued.

Tne conference will act upon the proposals with a view to adoptin'g a simplified practice recommendation covering this commodity.

P hotographic Pape r - A general conference of manufacturers, distributors and users of

photographic paper held in New York on October 23rd, under the auspices of the Division

of Simplified Practice, unanimously approved a simplified schedule for cut and roll

sizes of photographic paper. The program was prepared by a committee of manufacturers

and was based on a survey of demand of the various sizes. The survey disclosed the

fact that there existed an unusual number of seldom-called for sizes which could be

eliminated from the regularly stocked sizes with benefit to all concerned. The program

provides for the elimination of the sizes in least demand and establishes as stock

varieties the out and roll sizes for which there is sufficient demand to justify thair

retention as regular items. The conference appointed a standing committee of all interests to act as a liaison between the Department of Commerce and the industry for the

consideration of all questions involved in this program. The Division of Simplified

Practice at an early date will issue a report of the meeting, including the schedule

of the sizes approved, for the acceptance of the industry.

e su.lt s._of Qu a rt er - That the public is interested in getting better values for their

dollar in buying staple articles, is indicated in the report of the activities of the

Division of Simplified Practice for the third quarter of 1928. There were 1,705 new supporters of simplification received during this period. At the beginning of the

quarter there were 9,754 individual firms and 883 trade associations supporting simplified practice, while at the end of the quarter these figures had increased to 11,319

individual and 1,023 associational acceptors. This endorsement is given in the form

of a signed acceptance to each simplified practice recommendation, by which the acceptor pledges his support to the program as developed by the industry. Assurance that

the acceptors really follow out the provisions of the simplified practice recommendations, both in buying and selling, is indicated in the reports of the surveys which were

made on 7 projects during the quarter. Based on factual surveys, 82.33 per cent of the

output of the commodities covered by these seven projects were in conformity with the

adopted simplification. This report is typical of the steady gain, throughout the

year, in adherence to the completed projects. During the second quarter of 192$ there were 6 projects reviewed with the average adherence of each reported at 83.97 per cent.

A further indication of the increasing interest in simplified practice is fou»d in the

fact that of the more tnan 466,000 printed publications of the Division of Simplified
Monthly News Bulletin No. 44—15.

Practice sold up to the end of the quarter, 116,247 were sold during the fiscal year

ended June 30, 1928.

Hard Fib er Twi nes - A sufficient number of signed acceptances have been received from

the interested elements of industry, numbering at least 80 per cent by volume of annual

production, to insure the general adoption of the simplified practice recommendation

for Hard Fiber Twines (Ply and Yarn Goods) the Division of Simplified Practice announces

this simplification may be considered as effective November 1, 1928.

Glass Containe rs for Preserves. Je l lies and App le Butter. - The simplified practice

recommendation for preserve jars and jelly glasses which was adopted by the general

conference of manufacturers, distributors and users, held in Cleveland, on September

18th, in conjunction with the convention of the National Preserves Association, is no

before the industry for acceptance. Upon receipt of the required number of acceptances

the recommendation will be printed as Simplified Practice Recommendation No. 91, in

the Department’s "Elimination of Waste" series.

Beve rage B ottles - The organization of a joint simplified practice .committee has been

completed to consist of four representatives of the American Bottlers of Carbonated

Beverages and three from the Glass Container Association. At the first meeting of the

committee, which was held at the Department of Commerce on November 2nd, a chairman was appointed and the scope of the activities of the committee was discussed. A survey is

to be made under the auspices of the committee, the results of which are to be used as

a basis for the preparation of a tentative simplified practice recommendation for con- sideration by the industry.

Glass Containers fo r Drug and Pharmaceutical Industries. - The various- - industries and

associations which were authorized to appoint a member to serve on a joint simplifi-ed

practice committee have selected their representatives. The first meeting of the com- mittee will be held in the near future to select a chairman and to discuss the scope of

the work and to determine the extent of the survey which has been authorized by the. different groups concerned.

Co operage - A representative of the Division of Simplified Practice addressed the 13th

Semi-Annual Convention of the Associated. Cooperage Industries of America, at Chicago

on November 15th, on the subject "Simplified Practice and Its Application to the Cooperage Industry.” A standardization committee of the industry met on November 13th

at which time the matter of simplification of wooden container sizes. was discussed.

I ce Cream Cans - A tentative list of sizes and types of ice cream cans which was worked

out by a joint simplified practice committee on June 6, 1928, was submitted at the an- nual convention of the International Association of Ice cream Manufacturers at Cleveland during the week of October 15th, for consideration and criticism.

Shipping Ta gs - A meeting of manufacturers of shipping tags was held at the Department

of Commerce on October 25th for the purpose of giving all tag manufacturers the opportunity to take final action on the program prepared by the simplified practice committee . The modified program was adopted by this meeting. Plans are in preparation for holding a general conference at some future date.

Steel B ath room Medicine Chests - A preliminary conference of manufacturers of steel

bathroom medicine cabinets has been held under the auspices of the Division of Simplified Practice. At this meeting a tentative simplified practice recommendation was drafted and will be submitted to all manufacturers of this commodity for comments and

suggestions before being considered at a general conference bringing in architects

contractors and engineers
Monthly News Bulletin No. 44—16.

Pipe Balls - A meeting of the Simplified Practice Committee, which was appointed at a preliminary conference held on October 4, was held in Pittsburgh on October 26, At that time a tentative simplified practice recommendation was drawn up. This will be

submitted to a general conference of producers and users to be held early in December,

Marine Hardware - The simplified practice committee of the marine hardware industry

held a meeting in New York City on October 22nd, and final preparations were made for

the submission of a simplified practice recommendation to all manufacturers prior tc calling a general conference..

Upholstery Nails - A representative of the Division of Simplified Practice addressed a meeting of the upholstery nail industry and stressed simplification as a means of waste

elimination. A committee of manufacturers was appointed to make a study of conditions

and report back to the Division.

Me tal Shower and Toilet Partitions -- At a meeting of the Metal Compartment Manufacturers

Association, held in Columbus, Ohio, or. October 10 and 12, the final draft of a simplified practice recommendation was approved by the manufacturers, ar.d is being submitted

to the Division with the request that it call a general conference

Ameri can Marine .Standards -Committee

The American Marine Standards Committee organized to represent the marine and allied

industries in matters dealing with simplification of practice and standardization, and whose

activities are administered as a unit of the Division of Simplified Practice, has issued a revised edition of the outline of its organization and procedure., The pamphlet contains

the committee's constitution and general rules, also its rules for development of standardization projects. The constitution and rules appear as recently modified to simplify procedure. Briefly stated, the committee is constituted of a membership and governed by an Executive Board elected annually from and by the membership The administrative details devolve upon the Chairman and the Secretary. The field of activities embraces design, con- struction and manufacture of hulls, machinery, equipment and fittings for ships and port

facilities, also thexr maintenance and operation, particularly in relation to the merchant

marine of the United States. The technical field comprises five divisions, viz: Hull Details; Engineering (Machinery) Details; Ship Operation Details and Supplies; Port Facilities; Manufacture and Construction. Each of these divisions is headed and supervised by a technical committee. Provisions are made for special committees on subjects of far-reaching importance to the industry, and to coordinate th9 committee's technical work with current related activities.

A list of fifty publications comprising the standards compiled and promulgated by the

committee to October 1, 1928, is available. These publications contain 31 standards of hull

details, 22 standards of engineering details and 20 standards appertaining to ship operation details and supplies. They are obtainable at nominal prices from the Superintendent

of Documents, Government Printing Office. Washington. D. C.

Preliminary draft of proposed standards for sleeve couplings for propeller shafting

submitted t© the Technical Committee ca Engineering Details.

A revised type of standard cap for tubular steel cargo booms was developed as a substitute for design previously tentatively approved. The new design has link instead of pin

connections for the cargo falls and topping lifts. It is to be submitted to the Executive

leard for approval for promulgation at the meeting in November.
Monthly News Bulletin No. 44—17.

Preliminary drafts were prepared and submitted to the Subject Committee on Insulation

and the Technical Committee on Engineering Details, of three additional specifications for

insulation materials, viz:

Pipe-Covering. Diatomaceous Earth. Molded Earth, Diatomaceous , Granular. Calcined Brick

and Mortar, Insulating, Calcined Diatomaceous Earth.

A manuscript of revised edition of pamphlet entitled "Simplified Practice in the Marine

Field" containing the amended Constitution and Rules of the American Marine Standards Committee was prepared and issued for printing.

Final drafts of standard specifications for built-up propellers, templates for machining blade flanges, and for solid propellers, were prepared and submitted to the Technical

Committee on Engineering Details for final recommendations to the Executive Board.

A preliminary draft of proposed rules for standard practice m hull construction was prepared and submitted to the Technical Committee on Hull Details and others concerned for

critical comment and recommendations to the Executive Board.

Good progress is being made on drawings of proposed standards of plain chocks, endroller chocks, pillar chocks, and pillar-roller chocks.

A number of publications were received from the Printing Office comprising standards

recently promulgated, which are to be distributed to the membership as soon as the last one of the group is available.

Proposed standard rules for design and construction of marine boilers and pressure

tanks have been developed by a sub-committee and are to be submitted at an early date to the

subject and technical committees concerned.

The special committee on stability and loading has agreed upon its final report which

-is to be submitted to the Executive Board for promulgation at the next meeting.

The next meeting of the Executive Board has been set to take place on Saturday. November 17th, at the office of the Chairman, Colonel E. A. Simmons, Simmons-Boardman Publishing

Company, 30 Church Street, New York. At this meeting a number of reports are to be received

and considered and a number of proposed standards are to be finally acted upon.

The Secretary of the Committee announces that a group of publications will be distributed to the membership in the near future. This will comprise standards recently promulgated as follows:

Specifications for Insulation of piping and machinery on ships; Magnesia molded pipe

covering and blocks; Magnesia asbestos plaster; Asbestos millboard; Hair felt for insulation;

Cotton duck for insulation coverings; Metallic Packing for condenser tubes; Rubber air hose.

Rubber steam hose; l^-inch water hose, rubber covered; 2^-inch water suction hose, smooth

bore; Oil suction and discharge hose, rubber covered.

Design standards for: Hubs and fairwater caps for buiit-up propellers, with flush facings; Scupper valves — Sizes 3, 4, 5 and 6 inches; Boom Steps, bracket type, for 5. 10. and

15 ton booms, and deck type, for 15. 20 and 30 ton booms.

Comme rcial Standards Unit

A paper entitled Commercial Standards, Their Purpose and Utility, has been prepared for

the information of those who may be interested in this service to American industry In ad-
Monthly News Bulletin No. 44—18.

dition to the material indicated by the title, there is set forth a definition of the term

Commercial Standard, quotations and comments from significant sources, as well as a more or less detailed statement of procedure. Copies of this paper are available upon request.

Surgical Gauze - Agreeable to requests from interested manufacturers, invitations have been

issued to a general conference to be held at 10:00 A.M., Friday, November 16, 1928 at the

Drug and Chemical Club, 85 John Street. New York City, to consider the establishment of a Commercial Standard for Surgical Gauze. The proposed Commercial Standard covers the com- mercial designations for both gray and bleached surgical gauze, thread count, weights,

widths, and water absorption requirements with tolerances and tests for each. Copies are available upon request. All those interested in establishment of a Commercial Standard for

this commodity are invited to be present at the above conference or, if preferred, to submit their suggestions and comments in writing.

Ename le d Sanitary Ware - The dimensional survey of enameled sanitary ware items regularly

produced, recently authorized by the Advisory Committee, is well under way. Samples of the ware are also being assembled for careful examination and inspection preparatory to drafting tentative nomenclature and grading rules for this commodity.

Staple Porcelain (All Clay' Plumb i ng Fixtures - Under date of October 23. it was announced

that a sufficient number of signed acceptances from manufacturers, distributors and users

had been received to insure the general adoption of the Recommended Commercial Standard on Staple Porcelain (All Clay) Plumbing Fixtures. Effective date for new production will be

July 1, 1929, and for clearance of manufacturers' stock January 1, 1930, as determined by

the general conference. Earlier compliance with the recommendation wherever practicable is.

of course, encouraged.

Curbing "Boo tle g" Manufacturers - An article under this title by Julian Armstrong, Executive Vice President of the Pipe Nipple Standards Corporation, appeared in the October 15

issue of the Plumbers and Heating Contractors Trade Journal, which is of interest to all

manufacturers who are forced to combat competitive marketing of off-grade or low quality

products. Mr. Armstrong says "There are today many manufactured articles whose outward appearances are so exactly similar, and to determine the actual quality and grade of their

ingredients or component parts would call for such elaborate and expensive tests, that the

large majority of the buyers and users of such products - including, of course, the public - are deprived of such safe-guards and buy on price and outward appearances." Reprints of the

above article are available upon request to the Commercial Standards Unit.

Foreign Interest in Commercial Standards - It is significant that manufacturers in foreign

countries are taking an interest in Commercial Standards developed in the United States, as evidenced by a recent letter from Alstell and Bernstrom of Stockholm, Sweden, addressed to the Plumbers Trade Journal, making inquiry concerning effectiveness of stanards in the

plumbing field, with particular reference to vitreous china ware.

Division of Specifications

A supplement to Miscellaneous Publication No. 90, "Directory of Commercial Testing and

College Research Laboratories," to include proper references and adequate details relating

to certain commercial and college laboratories not covered in the second edition of that

publication, has been prepared. As the result of a request from the War Department, the

Chief Coordinator has arranged for the publication by the Bureau of Standards of a classified list of all Governmental laboratories, facilities, etc., available for the testing of

supplies and materials for the purchasing officers of the various Government departments.
Monthly News Bulletin No. 44—19.

Arrangements for bringing the certification and labeling plans to the attention of

every known American technical society, trade association, distributing organization, advertising agency, and consumer group are now being carried out. Up-to-date descriptions of

these plans will be sent to officers of all of the associations and societies, and copies

of the revised lists of "willing-to -certify" manufacturers will be sent to the executive

officer of every consumer group These lists are being, and will continue to be sent to individual consumers upon request. The Bureau of Standards has prepared a mimeographed bulletin, "Use of Labels by Nationally Recognized Organizations," which contains a list of

agencies that are engaged in activities relating to the formulation of specifications, or the establishment of quality standards, manufacturing in conformity therewith and taking

steps to insure compliance therewith that make use of labels or their equivalent for this

pu rpose

When the National Directory of Commodity Specifications was published in 1925, it was announced that there would be issued as rapidly as conditions would permit a so-called

"Encyclopedia of Specifications." in a series of publications dealing with the standards and

specifications in various industries In 1927 the first, of the series was issued under the title "Standards and Specifications in the Wood-Using Industries." Manuscript is now in

rough-draft form for the second volume of the series; "Standards and Specifications for

Non-Metallic Minerals and Manufactures Thereof."

B uilding anfl Hjousing

A list showing the status of building codes and plumbing codes in cities of more than

10,000 population has been prepared by the Division of Building and Housing. It is based

on answers to a questionnaire sent to building inspectors, city clerks, and others.

The information given includes the dates of building and plumbing codes now m use, whether printed together or separately, whether or not the codes are being revised, by what

agency the plumbing cedes are enforced, and the number of persons in plumbing, building, and

electrical inspection departments.

The list will be corrected from time to time and probably enlarged in scope and it is

hoped that it will become of increasing usefulness to those whose work brings them in contact with building and plumbing requirements. A limited number of copies is available for

free distribution and may be secured upon request to the Division of Building and Housing

Department of Commerce, Washington. D C,

The Division cf Building and Housing reports that building rules and regulations for

public buildings and places of employment have just been approved and promulgated by the

Administrative Building Council of Indiana In these, extensive use is made of the recom- mended minimum requirements prepared by the Building Code Committee of the Department of

Comae roe. Acknowledgement is made to the Committee in the introduction to the rules Plumbng rules and regulations based on the recommendations of the Sub-committee on Plumbing of

the Building Code Committee were adopted by the same Council in 1925 The work done at the

Department of Commerce in preparing building and plumbing code recommendations, acceptance

of which is entirely voluntary on the part of states and municipalities, is reported as steadily gaining recognition in states and cities throughout the country.

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