Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-05-23

WnHnluKfDHs eldf AofiA s'N -
short weight on meat or STRAWBERRIES
az the corner grocery it Is not be-
cause Uncle Sam is unable 90 pro-
Iduce accurate weights and scales ~
the United states Bureau Of standards
| government scientists can welgn 4
name written on a sheet or paper |
They can even add period after the |
signature and weigh that. Ana the |
same precision may be applied 10
Weighing on a larger scale. TX u
were necessary the apparatus couid
be provided 10 weigh 25'oOv-ton
battieshlp so accurately that the alb
aence OF even pound rivet couid
be detected.
Back in 1890 the two national stand
ards. two little kilogram weights each
containing $4,000 worth Of platinum
and iridium we're brought 90 this
country under seal and opened by
President Harrison. They had been
made by order Of the international
Weights and Measures Conference at
Paris. Each country represented re-
ceived two kilogram weights. and the
two original weights from which they
were made were deposited at Paris
in vault guarded by three separate
locks. The presence Of all three Of
> tho officials who keep the three keys
, 90 the vault is required whenever
, these two most valuable weight
? standards In the world are consulted.
3 Since the Bureau Of Standards was
2 established our two national standards
u have remained there locked in vault.
No one touches them with his fingers.
4 one has been used few times in the
# past 20 years. but it IL always handled
$ with chamois covered pliers. The
other had never been taken
10 from the vault until test was made
g. the other day because the scientists
Ia wanted 10 find out whether the
n STANDARD that had been used was az
< Ifected by handling They also wished
20 compare the secondary STANDARD
"A which are more generally used about
$ the laboratories with the national
10 sta ndards
10 The tcst showed that the national
lie standards have not changed appreci-
n ably during their 30 years existence
Other weights also showed cha nges
ne so slight as 10 be unimportant The
9. largest change in a kilogran weigh
ia noted by the delicate apparatus Of tbs
MS government laboratory was one ten
miionth This weight had been use'
n for more than 30 years.
{. This was serious work because tn
n weight standards Of the country ar
ch Of tremendous importance. They ar
n tho best weights made. and they ar
OF the basis NJ tho weighing that zoe
M on I'm markets, stockyards. shipbuild
- Ing plants and. factories. They ar
ey rarely used because the government
~ does not wish to endanger their ac
ne curacy by handling them. They ar
K only to be taken ont az long inter
walls. as they were he other day. {
r'g make sure that tho country is operat
W ing on a sound weight basis.
- Precaution Observed.
nj The Iaynan generally thinks tina
ed he IS weighing carefully when he hold
a his breath and steadies his hands a
ut. he slides the weights on the bar. Tha
ne may be careful enough work for ordi
nary purposes. But tho Bureau Z
me Standards gets tho record for extrern
=. caution IN veighing tests Watch
lcd makers, diamond merchants. phar
zen macista and research workers VII
use fine and accurate balances sen
INT their weights TO the Bureau 10 haV
ow them proved by government standard
G. The balances IN the Rovernrner
,ys laboratory are in glass cases. TIL
70 weights are placed on the scale par
lys with holders. Some balances are g
IN equipped that a little round piece
the glass case works on lever an
w pushes the scale pan outside the cas-
OK. The scientist can then place III
Is weights on the scale pan withol
opening one whole side OF the cas-
Of and letting In the dust
MS? For careful work the weighing .,
X. pert sometimes stands eight or r
ar feet away from the glass enclosed ba
M anCe so that the warmth OF mis- boo
ties may not affect the reading. He rea,
IN the figures by Use Of a telescope al
Au- mirror.
da. In the basement of the building
ria. the even temperature room where st
.ba. greater precautions are taken
nan achieve eXactness. The room IS bu
zoe / with an extra double wall Of hollC
fol- tile, so that when 1t is kept closed a
,an tempera ture remains constant to wit
"a in one-tenth Of degreefn many hou
no The most important balance in I
- building Is here. Il is protected fro
anI vibrations by having It's mount on
separate foundation from the 40
For special research problems
vacuum can be created in it's NE
.. case.
had
The Improved Standards In States.
X The official gold plated weights
leon all Of the states are referred 20
Government standards when nee
Y. sary. New sets of standards for "
oming and Massachusetts are be
anne tested in the Bureau laboratories
,ted present. They will then be sent to "a
4 IN state capitol. and entrusted To
.ors sealer OF weights and measures or
corresponding state official.
4 few years ago, when the Cove
ment began to promote more accur
weighing in markets and stores.
q AT the effort to eliminate fraudul
treet weights and measures. most Of
q so states hardly knew that they had
,mo- fetal standard weights.
In one state the set Of Off,
- weights was located in junk sh