NATIONAL RECOVERY ADMINISTRATION 

CODE OF FAIR C·OMPETITION 

FOR THE I 

BUILDING DIRECTORIES 

AND CHANGEABLE SIGNS 

AS SUBMITTED. ON AUGUST 30, 1933 

REGISTRY No. 1702-18 

The Code for the Building Directories and Changeable Signs Industry 

in its present form merely reflects the proposal of the above-mentioned 

industry, and none of the provisions contained therein are 

to be regarded as having received the approval of 

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the National Recovery Administration 

as applying to this industry 

WE DO OUR PART 

UNITED STATES 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

WASHINGTON : 1933 

For sale by lhe ::,uperintendent of Docwnents, Washington, D.C. - - - - - - - - Price 5 cents 

CODE OF FAIR COMPETITION FOR THE INDUSTRY OF 

MANUFACTURING BUILDING DIRECTORIES AND 

CHANGEABLE SIGNS 

PREA 1\IIU E AND AGREEl\IE:NT 

\Vhereas, the manufacturing, processing, an l marketing of building directories and changeable signs is a distinctive business in 

America, requiring special equipment and technical kno"ledge to 

handle raw material and equipment. 

It is hereby agreed to set up a Code of Fair Competition :for the 

Industry of ~1anu:facturing Building Directories and Changeable 

Signs :for ubmittal to the President of the United States as provided in the National Industrial Recovery Act as passed by Congress 

on June 13th, 1933, and signed by the President of the United States 

on June 16th, 1933. 

It is hereby :further agreed that the Association shall appoint a 

ecretary who hall be the authorized agent :for the Industry of 

l\1anu:facturing Building Directories and Changeable Signs :for the 

purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Code. 

ARTICLE I - PURPOSE 

This code is set up :for the purpose of increasing employment, 

establishing :fair and adequate wages, effecting necessary reduction 

of hours of labor, improving standards of labor, eliminating unfair 

trade practices, etc., to the end of rehabilitating the Industry of 

Manufacturing Building Directories and Changeable Signs and 

enabling it to do its part toward establishing that balance of industries which i necessary to the restoration and maintenance of the 

highest practical degree of industrial relations and public welfare. 

It is the declared purpose of the Industry of Manufacturing Building Directories and Changeable Signs and of adherent to this Code, 

to bring insofar as may be practicable, the rates of wages pail within 

the Industry of Manufacturing Building Directories and Changeable 

igns to such level as are necessary :for the creation and maintenance of the highest practicable standard of living· to re tore the 

income of enterprises within the industry to levels which will make 

po sible the payment of such wage and avoid the :further depletion 

and destruction of capital a et ; and from time to time to revise 

the rates of wage in ·uch manner a will currently reflect the equitable adjustment to Yariation in the co t of living. 

To this end we pledg our elve individually and collectively to a 

maximum average weekly employment not to exceed :forty hours (40) 

per emplo ee, it being un ler tood that during the ru h eason em1 loyees nia3 be permitted to work fifty hour ( 50) per week :for a 

period not to excee l three month in one year and that the average 

690-33 (1) 
will be brought down to forty hours ( 40) per week, through operating a less number of hours than the average during the dull season. 

Exceptions are: Executives, Executive Assistants, Salesmen, J\faintenance :Men, vVatchmen, Porters, and Janitors. 

1Ve pledge ourselves to a Minimum. wage scale as follows: 

Any man em ployed, 40 cents per hour. 

Any woman employed, 30 cents per hour. 

No one under sixteen years of age shall be employed 111 this 

Industry. 

ARTICLE II-PARTICIPATION 

Participation in this Code, and any subsequent revision of or addition to the Code, shall be extended to any person, partnership, or 

corporation in the Industry of Manufacturing Building Directories 

and Changeable Signs who accepts his share of the cost and responsibility, as vi:ell as the benefit of such participation. No initiation or entrance fees shall be charged, but there shall be dues 

levied on the fallowing basis : After determining the amount of 

the budget for each year, each member will be assessed a monthly 

apportionment som.ewhat on the basis of the volume of business 

done by each member, but not to such an extent as to reveal the 

actual volume. Subscription fees, o:::· other assessments, if any, shall 

be levied on the same basis, provided not less than sixty-five percent 

of the membership approve the amount of such asses ments. 

- ARTICLE III-EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ADMINISTRATION, REPRESENTATION, AND PowER 

A. ADMINISTRATION 

The Industry of J\,fanufacturing Building Directories and Changeable Signs shall set up the Building Directory and Changeable 

Letter Sign Manufacturers' Association for the purpose of assisting 

the President of the United States in administering the provisions 

of the Code, to secure adherance thereto, to hear and adjust complaints, to consider proposals for amendments thereof and exceptions 

therto, and otherwise to carry out the purposes of the N ationnl Industrial Recovery Act as set forth in this Code. 

B. REPRESENTATION 

The Executive Committe2 of the Industry of Manufacturing 

Building Directorie and Changeable Signs shall consi 't of three 

representatives, as provided in the Constitution and Bylaws of the 

Association. 

C. POWERS 

The Executive Committee shall be the general planning and coordinating agency for the industry. It. members shall be empowered 

to act in respect to all matters before the Committee for consideration and within its jurisdiction: The Committee shall have powers 

and duties as provided herein, and in addition thereto it shall: 
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(a) From time to time require uch reports as in its judgment may 

be necessary to advise it adequately of the administration and enforcement of the provisions of this Code; 

(b) Upon complaint of interested parties, or upon its own initiative, make such inquiry and inve tigation into the operation of the 

Code as may be necessary, prescribe and enforce suitable rules and 

regulations for operation under the Code that are consistent with 

the provisions, spirit and intent of the National Industrial Recovery Act; and 

( c) ~1ake rules and regulations necessary for the administration 

and enforcement of this Code. The Committee may delegate any of 

its authority to, and may designate such agent or agents as it shall 

determine. 

( d) A decision representing the majority opinion of the members 

of the Executive committee shall constitute the deci ion of the Committee except as otherwise provided in this Code. 

ARTICLE IV-. REGULATIONS 

A. LABOR CODE 

The Labor Code for the Industry shall be binding upon all producers of building directories and changeable signs, to which we, 

individually and collectively, hereby agree and subscribe: 

1. That employees shall have the right to organize and bargain 

collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and shall 

be free from the interference, restraint, or coercion of employers of 

labor or their agents, in the designation of such representatives or 

in self-organization or in other concerted activities for the purpose 

of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection; 

2. That no employee and no one seeking employment shall be required as a condition of employment to join any company union or to 

refrain from joining, organizing, or assisting a labor organization 

of his own choosing; and 

3. That employers shall comply with the maximum hours of labor, 

minimum rates of pay, and other conditions of employment approved 

or prescribed by the president. 

B. COST CODES 

The Executive Committee shall proceed at once to provide for 

standard method of co ting which shall be u eel by all manufacturers within the Inqustry for the purpose of this section of the Code. 

It shall be an unfair method of competition for any such manufacturer to sell below reasonable cost, reasonable cost as here referred to meaning the standard or mode cost as determined by the 

certified cost reports from at least 75 of the member of the indu - try, and upon at least 75% of the production of the Industry. Such 

average ideal costs shall be determined semiannually as of June 30th 

and December 31st and shall include cost of production, administrative, selling, and reasonable development expense , and a rea onable 

return on capital investment. The auditor or auditors preparing 

certified cost reports hall only certify and report the cost figures 

and shall not disclose to any person, persons, firm, or corporation 
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any detailed figures or information secured from an examination of 

the books or records of any members. 

The auditor selected to make examination and certification of the 

co t figures of the re pective members' accounts shall be one of a list 

of three nationally known Certified Public Accountants submitted 

by the Association. The expense of such examination shall be borne 

by the respective 111e1nber . Members shall submit this data to the association within thirty 

days after the close of each calendar six-month period ending June 

30th and December 31st. The Secretary shall then prepare, with 

the assistance of the Executive Committee, their agent or agents, 

a set of standard or ideal costs for the guidance of the members. 

ARTICLE V - INDUSTRY REGULATIONS 

A. MARKETING CODES 

The Executive Committee may establish Marketing Codes with 

provisions with respect to: (a) Simplification and standardization 

of products; (b) collection and interchange of credit information; 

( c) cooperative administration of insolvent debtors; ( d) and/or 

other aspects of marketing which may be deemed advisable for the 

good of the Industry by the Executive Committee. 

B. TRADE PRACTICE RULES 

The Trade Practice Rules are hereby approved and adopted by the 

Industry as follows : 

Rule 1.-Each manufacturer shall issue his own Printed Price List 

of which the Terms of Sale shall be a part and shall file a copy of 

each current price list, and thereafter as changes may be made or 

new lists issued, with the Agency designated by the Executive 

Committee. 

Rule 2.-Each 1nanufacturer shall adopt and maintain a 1-prjce 

policy which will treat all customers of a given manufacturer alike; 

that is, for a given article, in a like quantity, like time of delivery, 

of like quality, like distance from the same shipping point, etc., each 

customer will pay the same price. There shall be no discrimination 

in price, either directly or through more favorable terms, rebates, 

deli very concessions, etc. 

Ru.le 3.-The secret pay1nent or allowance of rebate , refunds, 

commissions, or unearned discounts, whether in the form of 111oney 

or otherwise, or secretly extending to certain purchasers specjal service or privileges not extended to all purchasers under like terms 

and conditions is an unfair trade practice and a violation of this Code. 

Rule 4.-The making or causing or permitting to be made or published any faL e, untrue, or deceptive statement by way of advertisement or otherwi e concerning the grade, quality, quantity, substance, character, nature, origin, size, or preparation of any product 

of the Industry having the tendency and capacity to mi lead or deceive purchasers or prospective purchasers and the tendency to injuriously affect the business of competitors, is an unfair trade practice 

and a violation of this Code. 
Rule 5--The rbfam·ation of competitor by fa] ely imputing to 

them di honorable conduct, inability to perform contract , questionable credit tancling, or by other fal. e repre entations, or the fal e 

di parao-ement of the grade or quality of their good. , with the tendency and capacit to 1ni lead or deceive purcha er or pro pective 

purchaser , an 1 the tendency to injuriou ly affect the busines of such 

competitor i. an unfair trade practice an l a violation of thi Code. 

Rule 6.-The imitation of the trade mark , trade name , logans, 

or other mark of identification of competitors, having the tendency 

and capacity to mi lead or deceive purchaser or prospective purcha ers, and the tendency to injuriously affect the busine . of such 

competitors is an unfair trade practice and a violation of thi Code. 

Rule 7.-Maliciou ly inducing or attempting to induce the breach 

of exi ting contract between competitor and their cu tomers by 

any fal e or deceptive means whatsoever, or interfering with or 

obstructing the performance of any uch contractual dutie or service by any such mean : with the purpose and effect of unduly 

hampering, injuring, or embarrassing competitors in their businesses, 

i an unfair trade practice and a violation of thi Code. 

Rule 8.-Directly or indirectly to give or permit to be given or 

offer to give money or anything of value to agents, employees or 

representatives of cu. tomers or pro pective cu tomers or to agents, 

employee , or repre entati, e of competitor cu tomers or pro pective cu tomers, without the knowledge of their employer or principal , a an inducement to influence their employers or principals 

to pnrchase or contract to purchase indu try products from the 

maker of such gift or offer, or to influence uch employers or principals to refrain from dealing or contracting to deal with competitors, with the tendency to injuriously affect the bu ine s of competitor i an unfair trade practice, and a violation of this Code. 

Rule 9.-Securing information from competitors concerning their 

busine e by fal e or mi leading tatements or representation or 

by false impersonations of one in authority, or ecuring information 

concerning competitor ' busine by bribery of their employee , and 

the wrongful u e thereof to unduly hinder or tifle the corn.petition 

of such competitors i an unfair trade practice and a violation of 

this Code. 

Rule 10.-The ale or offering for ale of any product of the 

indu try by any faLe mean or device which ha the tendenc and 

capacity to mi lead or deceive customer or pro pective customers 

a to the quantity, quality, substance or size of uch product, and 

the tendency to injurion ly affect the bu ine of competitor is an 

unfair trade practice and a violation of this Code. 

Rule 11.-Offering for ale merchandi e at a price reduced from 

a marked up or fictitious price with the tendency and capacity to 

mi lead or deceive purcha er. or pro pectfre purcha er and the 

tendency to injuriou ly affect the busine s of competitor 1s an 

unfair trade practice and a violation of this Code. 

Rule lf.-The hipment of good on con ignment with the intent 

and with the effect of injuring a competitor, and where the effect 

may be to ubstantially les en competition or tend to create a monopoly or to unreasonably re train trade is an unfair trade practice 

and a violation of this Code. 
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Ru,le 13.-Contracts, either written or oral, are business obligations 

which hould be performed in letter and spirit. The repudiation 

of contracts by seller on a rising market, or by buyers on a declin- ing market, is equally reprehensible, and is condemned by the 

Industry. 

ARTICLE VI- ARBITRATION 

\Ve ubscribe to the principle of arbitration. If a question of 

fact may be involved, we agree to lay forwith all of our evidence before the Executive Con1mittee, or its duly authorized repre entative, 

and pledge ourselves to the following procedure: 

Each member in the Industry shall be furnished with a supply of 

printed forms on which to make formal complaints. These complaints shall be filed with the Executive Committee or its duly 

authorized repre entative and shall give the facts as to any alleged 

violation of this Code of Fair Competition, specifying the provision 

of the Code which it is alleged has been violated. 

Each complaint made hereunder shall be accompanied by a fee of 

Twenty-Five Dollars ($25.00) as an eYidence of good faith and to 

apply on the cost of investigation. 

The authorized representative of the Executive Committee shall 

make an inve tigation and if unable to ecure a harmoniou adjustment of the matter mutually agreeable to all parties concerned, shall 

present the fact at the regular monthly meeting of the Executive 

Committee. 

If the Executive Comn1ittee shall decide that any c01nplaint made 

hereunder is justified, the party against whom the complaint is filed 

shall pay to the Executive Committee full cost of the investigation 

and the amount of the complaint fee shall be refunded by the Executive Committee to the party filing the complaint. 

In event the Executive Committee shall decide any complaint is 

not justified, the full cost of the investigation shall be paid by the 

complaining member, and the complaint fee applied in part payment thereof. 

In addition to payment of the cost of investigation, the member 

found guilty of violation of the Code may be required by the Executive Committee to pay to the Agency desio·nated by the Executive 

Committee such sum as the Executive Committee may decide to be 

warranted, taking into account the gravity of the violation and 

the best interests of the Industry as a whole, but in no case in excess 

of 50 of the sales value in a sales transaction violation, and in all 

other Code violations not to exceed $500.00. 

If an3 complaint filed hereunder shall affect a member of the I n- dustry, one of whose representatives is a member of the Executive 

Committee, such representative shall not participate in the investigation of the complaint, or in the decision by the Executive Committee on the merits of said complaint, but shall have an opportunity 

to appear before the ExecutiYe Committee to present an explanation 

or defense to the charges. 

Any of the parties to a controversy on facts, not satisfied with the 

findings of the Executive Committee shall have the right of appeal 

either to arbitration by disinterested parties or to the Federal Court 

as provided in the National Industrial Recovery Act. 
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ARTICLE VII-RECALCITRANTS 

The procedure on recalcitrants shall be a follow : 

Any information a to concern who may be in this Industry, who 

may not be member of the organization set up for the Industry, or 

who may not be following the Code of Fair Competition adopted 

by the Industry and appro-, ed under the National Industrial Recovery Act hall immediately be reported to the Secretary of the 

organization for the Industry, who shall make an inve tigation, 

attempt to secure the cooperation of such concern , and if unable to 

do so shall report the £acts to the Executi, e Committee who in turn 

shall report the matter to the District Attorney of the Federal Court. 

ARTICLE VIII-STATISTICS 

In order to provide data nece ary for the admini tration of the 

National Industrial Recovery Act, the members of the Indu try of 

:Manufacturing Building Directories and Changeable Signs shall :furnish and the designated Agency hall gather, tatistical information 

from all the members of the Industry. 

Each member of the Industry of Manufacturing Building Directories & Changeable Signs shall report weekly to the de ignated 

Agency complete information on all orders booked, as may be determined and requested by the Executive Committee. 

vVithholding from, or inserting in. the invoice or contract statements which make the invoice or contract false record, wholly or in 

part of the tran action repre ented on the £ace thereof, i condemned by the industry, and is a violation of this Code. 

From the e reports shall be made up Monthly Report howing 

total volume of business done by the Industry of Manufl:l.cturing 

Building Directories &, Changeable Signs, and also semiannual 

reports showing. total volume, Geographical Distribution, and 

Industrial Distribution. 

ARTICLE IX-GENERAL 

1. No prov1s10n in this Code shall be interpreted or applied 111 

uch a manner as to : 

a. Promote monopolies 

b. Permit or encourage unfair competition 

c. Eliminate or oppress small enterpri e or 

d. Di criminate against mall enteprises. 

2. This Code or any of its provision may be cancelled or modified 

and any approved rule issued thereunder shall be ineffecti, e to the 

extent nece ary to conform to any action b_ the President under 

the K ational Industrial Recovery Act. 

3. The Executive Committee of the Industry of Manufacturing 

Building Directorie and Changeable Signs shah from time to time 

make uch recommendation . including amendment. of the Code, a~ 

in their judgment will aid the effective administration of thi Code 

or may be neces ary to effectuate within the Indu try of :Manufacturing Building- Directorie and Changeable Si9.·n the purpo e of 

the T ational Industrial Recover Act as administered. 
4. Amendment to this Code may be propo ed by any member to 

the ExecutiYe Committee or may be initiated by it, an l -when 

approyed by the President shall be effective. 

5. Yiolation by any 1nember of the Industry of Building Directories and Changeable Signs of any provisions of this Code or of 

any approved Rule issued thereunder, is an unfair n1ethod of competition. 

6. This Code shall be in effect beginning ten days after its approYal 

by the President. 

7. It is under tood that the President of the United States may 

from time to time cancel or modify an31 order, approYal, license, 

rule, or regulation, issued under the National Industrial Recovery 

Act which may apply to this Code. 

,YE A D EACH OF US, repre enting a majority of the concerns 

in the Industry of :Manufacturing Building Directories and Changeable Signs, HEREBY AGREE AND PLEDGE OURSELVES to 

a full performance of the pro-visions of this CODE OF FAIR 

CO 1PETITION UNDER THE NATIO:N"AL INDUSTRIAL RECO'\ ERY_ ACT as passed by the Congress June 13th, 1933, and 

signed by the President of the United States June 16th, 1933. 

R. W. CL,rnK :MFG. Co., 

4311 Ravenswood Ave., Ohicago, Illinois. 

A :uERICAx SIGN 0' TYPE Co. 

54r.-- vY. Washington Blvd. Ohicago, Illinois. 

CHANGEABLE SrnN & BuLLETIN Co., 

10 Ji om·oe Street, Lynn, l',f assachusetts. 

JEWELL MANUFACTURING Co., 

Ooral "Gables, Florida. 

HENRY DAPPRICH ifFG. Co., 

2B2 Fairhaven Road, Pittsburgh, Pa. 

THE TABLET & TICKET Co., 

1021 W. Adams St., Ohicago, Illinois. 

BUILDING DIRECTORY Co., 

130 Bush St., San Francisco, Oalif01'nia. 

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