The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-07-07
UNIFORM PATTERNS
FOR CONSTRUCTION
Movement for Mechanical
Standardization in England
CONSUL HALSTEAD REPORTS
Example Of America in the Making Of
Steam Railway Rails 4 Notable Prec-
edeut for British Engineers-GeneraI
Advocacy CT Complete System.

OtCoLi railway hdllS notable Prec-
edent for British Engineers-General
Advocacy Of Complete System.
Consul Marshall Halstead. OF Birm-
insban, Engiand, has sent to the state
! Department the following editorial from
the London Times" showing the prog
ress made in mechanical standardization
I in Great Britain:
/ The favorable reception given by Mr..
/ Balfour to the deputation which lately
waited upon him on the subject Of en-
/ cheering Standards, as reported by US
a day OF two $50, and his announcement
that both the war Office and the admir-
atty were prepared heartily to cooper
ate with the effcTts Of the eminent com
mittee which approached him or the
subject are full of promise for some OF
i those department OF British Industry
which of late years have been most Sc
riously threatened by foreign competi-
Ition.
Waste Of Time and Money.
Few people have any adequate concep-
tion OF the waste OF money, OF time, and
OF material which Is consequent upon
the employment of all manner OF ir-
Irregular shapes and sizes IN various kinds
of constructive work; and the evils
hence arising-although attention was
first called to them by an eminent Eng.
iishman more than sixty years ago
have been tolerated IN this country with
an Indifference OF supineness which has
not been displayed elsewhere.
It was in 1871 that the late Sir Joseph
Whitworth pointed out the inconven-
ienee constantly arising from the differ
eut patterns Of screws then employed
BY different makers Of machinery, with
the result that a machine in some dis
tsnt part Of the world might be Grip
pied for want OF a single screw. and
might remain SO until sufficient time
had been given to send to the workshop
Of the original maker for the supply of
the deficiency.
a Beginning With Screws.
He proposed that manufacturers
should agree upon a uniform size and
/ pitch Of thread for every diameter of
screw or OF aperture, and was promptly
met by the contention that the form
used in every workshop was. in some
point or other, better than the rest.
But the shrewd and patient north
/ countFyman was not so easily discour-
aged. He evaded The difficulty by pro
ducing the exact mean of the several
] patterns used BY the most eminent firms.
and bis proposal was adopted by accla-
nation. He had 50 far foreseen this re-
suit as to have quietly prepared ma
ehinery for dealing with It, and when the
standard screws we're accepted he was
at once IN a position TO supply the tools
necessary for cutting them. His atten-
ton was soon after diverted to other
subjects, but he constantly regretted his
inability to deal with other tn Fngs as he
had dealt with screws. and vas never
weary Of exaptiating upon the adyan-
tages which would accrue to British in
dustry from the national adoption Of a
/ sUHlcient variety Of standard sizes in all
departments Of manufacture. His favor
lie object lesson was furnished by q
candle wabbling loosely IN & caRdIestick
q
per, OF by one requiring to be scraped
before II could be fixed; and he would
| ask why candlemakers should not agree
as to the number Of sizes required by
/ consumers, and why every No. British
candle should not 1T easily and correct
/ y into every No. ! British candIesticR
The iron and timber parts Of build
ings, such as Orders. doors. door
/ frames. window sashes, and the like,
IT.
and he was accustomed to maintain thai
the convenience which would be afford
/ ed TO purchasers by the general adoption
| Of proper number OF English stand
/ ards. and by accurate working TO them
/ would be sufficient TO give something
/ like a monopoly OF the trade in every
branch of manufacture in which the
/ principle was carried into effect.
Standard Rails in America.
Perhaps the first important step to-
ward action upon Whirworth's principles
was taken some years ago by an asso-
citation representing the principal rail
roads Of America. which had for one CT
dts objects the attainment Of uniformity
IN the patterns of rails and in the parts
Of locomotives. This association set it
self to determine. for example, how
many patterns OF locomotive we're re
CURED for the various demands Of traffic
for express engines, goods engines,
shunting engines. and so forth-and how
! these might be made in the most eco
nomic2I and practical way. The result
was. certain patterns having been adopt
ed by ell the companies included in the
association, that manufacturers were
able to work fer stock at times when
: they had TO orders in hand. and to 90
I this without danger OF finding them
selves burdened with unstable goods.
An Incidental consequence was, OF
/ course. comparative cheapness Of manu-
facture, and that IN a degree which
speedily made itself felt when railways
outside America were coming into the
market as purchasers. and we're content
TO deny themselves the luxury of en-
gines which had been specially de-
. F,.t-