The Washington herald., 1921-08-07
The Herald /
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SUNDAY. AUGUST .. isz1.
sTANDARDrzING THE

sTAbDARDTzlNG THE
NECESSARY BUTTON
Busons are among the most un-
stsndardize3 things we deal with ex-
perts Of the Bureau OF Standard Of
the Department Of Commerce have
found These little pieces Of pearl,
bone. composition. metal or porcelain
which accompany US and serve us
constantly are made in many sizes
and thousands Of patterns, finishes
and colors. Many makers have their
own particular Hne Of sizes ana
grades. and in the past Il has been
hard for different manufacturers 20
match each others buttons. But
many in the industry feel that IN.
specification Of standard sizes, st
least. is a possible step forward that
will benefit both the trade ana the
public, and the National Associa-
tion OF Button Manufacturers has
asked the cooperation Of the Bu-
reau OF Standards in this project
There is a large variety in sizes
OF buttons, ranging from an eight
line, one-fifth of an inch across. to
an eighty line, two inches in diam
eter. Instead of referring to but
ton sizes in fractions Of an inch or
in millimeters, II is the custom,
imported from England in the
early days, to number them accord
ing to their size in '1ines," the ac-
cepted standard units which are
each equal to one-fortieth Of an
inch.
The gage section of the Bureau
OF Standards. which during the war
certified the measuring devices
used in ammunition and other mil
itary testing, has obtained the size
standards of several of the largest
manufacturers and has evolved a
proposed national standard scale
which eliminates one-hfth of the
usual number OF sizes used by
each manufacturer and discsrds an
even larger number of the total
different sizes used Clothing man
ufacturerers and other users of
buttons will be consulted as TO
how the proposed changes affect
their work
Substituting a 81 line button for
the 20 ard 80 lines. which are
nearly the same size and which are
commonly used on underwear. will
result in a saving OF ssO0.Ooo a
year" predicted one manufacturer
in discussing the proposed scale.
Button Standardization Is a high
ly complex proposition because pat
tern. thickness. lUster, color. and
perfection and finish, as well as
diameter, are considered in grading
buttons.
Thousands and thousands OF de-
signs and patterns are in existsnce.
and clothing manufacturers and
tailors are constantly calling for
more novel ones. In the case OF
mems buttons there is a possibility
Of a series Of standard designs, but
most of the manufacturers despair
of setting UP uniform patterns for
buttons on women's clothes, psrtic-
ularly dresses and suits. Pattern is
Of particular Importance in compost
tion button making, because each
different design requires an expen-
sive steel die.
From the shells OF fresh water
mussels alone, five billion pearl but
tons are made each year. Making
pressed composition buttons, such as
are used on coats and suits. is an
other large industry. and thousands
o. metal. bone. porcelain and salt
water pearl buttons are made and
used each year.
The immediate work OF the
Bureau Of Standards will he con-
fined to size Standardization, al
though other factors will be con-
sidered later IL the industry and the
consumers OF buttons feel the need.
The peaS button manufacturers
have also been given aid in adjust
ing and standardizinE their class
flying machines that sort out the
blanks from which the buttons are
made.