The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-04-29

The Mechanical Branch" The body
polite OF this auxiliary body was
made up OF the chief engineers OF the
various allied makers. and they met
with great frequency for purposes or
discussion. the comparing OF notes aud
the calculation of the problems IN
volved. The literature OF the mechan
ical branch was ultimately the basis
OF a system Of standards which was
finally promulgated under the auspices
OF the Society Of Automobile Engin-
GERS, and when the mechanical branch
became inactive, It's records OF expert
ences and standards were placed at
the disposal OF the Society OF Auto
mobile Engineers, forming the nucleus
OF an effort which has since been ex-
tended to the good Of the industry.
The best guarantee that purcaas-
ers can possibly have of the stabi.
fty OF the American-made automobile
Is present In the concerted effort OF
the American automobile engineers,
and the fact that they are members
OF common body, and that they meet
at frequent intervals for the purpose
of comparing notes, IL assurance
enough to the buyer that II the Amer
ican-made type OF automobile diners
In important particulars from those
which come from afar. the reasons
for the differences, whatever they
may be, are paramount"
The Society OF Automobile Engin-
GERS. with a membership OF nearly
800 OF the ablest engineers and ex-
perts having to do with the automo-
bile industry. has, within the year,
accomplished results that Will be
founS to have made engineering his
tory Of definite nature. It's work ID
OF interest not merely to the tech
nician, but to the layman who de-
mands efficiency. safety ald comfort
In the use of his motor car, but who
has little idea how largely these de-
sired qualities are the fruit OF vast
research and labor. Standardization
Is the keynote Of the work OF the
society. It is the vital and impera-
tive need OF the producing end OF any
great industry.
That Standardization Is good thing
is realized by many, but the necessity
OF 1t would be realized by many more
IL the situation were fully understood.
For example, 1t Is not clear to many
OF the business men associated with
the automobile industry that there Is
any unnecessary complication OF de-
sign. They do not realize that there
are three or four hundred more d.
mansions and designs for lock-wash-
ers between the sizes Of 3-16 Of an
inch and " inch than there ought to
be 1t Is hard for the business man
to see why any such situation should
arise unless there existed some neces-
sity for II. The explanation IL clear.
A craftsman Is called upon TO make
a drawing of an automobile axle, for
example. His instructions are to draw
an axle capable Of carrying car or
some given weight and that, In q gen.
eral way, 1t should be an Ibeam axle
OF certain length and style. Entering
into this axle are very many details as
to size OF hole for spring clips, pins
for steering joints, ETC., to accom-
modate the rest Of the steering
mechanism and permit the whole
thing to slip into car properly.
The craftsman exercises his own
Judgment as to these details. not hav-
ing before him any standard for the
various details He may choose q
tubing for the steering cross rod. for
example, that does not exist In stock.
IL he has no table Of tubing sizes be-
fore him, he makes II to suit his own
fancy SO long as 1t will do the work.
He will do the same thing for the
shape Of the heads of the screws and
bolts and for the size Of the holes for
the spring clips and for many other
details. Every one Of these thugs he
may select to suit his fancy. may not
exist In stock. may not even be OF
standard design.
The drawing will 60 to the checker
and. II the figures correspond and the
design be q good looking one, II goes
to the purchasing department and The
parts ore ordered. The next thing
that may happen Is that the screws
ordered are found to be special and
the screw company furnishing Ihem
so states and says, Can you not use
this size. which differs only a very
little from what you have orderedT'
The purchasing department says,
Yes, but all the other parts are al
ready In the machine shop and par
TALLY machined and we are sorry, but
we must have these special screws
even at the high price you are Obliged
to ask for them"
SO the special parts are ordered and
Incorporated and the worst OF II Ia
that the next time q new model IL
designed, 1t may be desired to incor-
porate this axle or parts Of 1t to save
tools and fixtures; 30 again the spe-
cial parts are ordered and 1t may be
several years before the extra ex-
pense of obtaining special parts II
gotten rid Of. All this arose, not froni
necessity but from the unguided idea
of a craftsman.
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