The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-05-15
BROAD PLAN OF
HARVESTER CO.
is TIN ED
Standardization and Simpliti-
cation of lilac hinery Is
The Goal
Fl w IT is DONE

Cyrus Mccormick, Jr., Nicc-Prcsi-
dent, international Harvester Com
pany, in direct charge of manufac-
turing. has mapped out very COM
prehensive and broad plan of stand
ardization and simplification which
will result in much benefit to the
agricultural industry. There is d
definite need for such plan.
Farmers, in fact, have long recog-
nized the advantages of standardiz-
ng farm machines. The desirability
# having more simplified line Of
ools with which to work is obvious.
The countless varieties of styles and
sizes of practically all the tools
used on the average farm have even
interfered to Il certain extent with
the effectiveness of the repairs and
replacement service.
The desire for better service has
ed farmers and farmer organizations
% encourage in every possible way
efforts toward simplification and
standardization. The need for a
Standardization program was rccog-
nized by the Government during the
war. Manufacturers of farm
machines and implements, who were
urged to standardize their products
and Simplify their lines at that
time, have continued to further the
movement The Harvester Company.
especially, has gone long way in
standardizing and simplifying its
extensive Mccormick Deering line of
farm machines and implements, as
they are called after the Company
two most noted founders, and also
replacement parts and materials
from which the machines are made.
Standardization Plan
The Harvester Company years ago
recognized the need for standards
zation and accordingly drew up
complete plans for such a program.
Committees were appointed to study
every phase of the subject and de-
termine how the best possible results
could be obtained These committees,
composed of engineers, manufacture
ing experts, and men Of long farm
experience, went into the matte,
down to the smallest detail.
Naturally, the place to begin this
program was with the raw materials
themselves from which the machines
are manufactured. The committees
accordingly have made exhaustive
tests and studies in collaboration
with steel experts from some of the
largest mills in the country and
have formulated set of standard
formulas and specifications for the
various materials from which Nc
Cormick- Deering machines are made.
heretofore, the steel mills prepared
whatever kind of material the agri-
cultural implement men asked for.
Formulas for steel to be used for
identical purposes. however, often
varied widely. Manufacturers did
not know positively which was the
best steel. Now they do know. This
is assurance that in Harvester Com
pany machines, at least, the quality
of the material will be uniform ana
the best for the work performed.
The farmer, naturally, is benefited
because he gets machine which
should do more satisfactory work
er words, he gets better machine
for his money.
Can Keep Supply
If the farmer wishes to keep on
hand an emergency supply of extra
bolts, a very small selection will be
sufficient for all his machines. In
fact the Harvester Company has
prepared small box of assorted
bolts and nuts for this very pur-
pose.
Harvester Company engineers
have also given close consideration
to the idea of making interchange
able all parts which are common to
1wo or more machines. Of course,
IN some cases it is not practicable |
or desirable to make such parts ex-
actly alike, but wherever it has |
been deemed advisable the commit
tee has recommended it's adoption. /
Perhaps, tn most important phase |
Of this entire WORK is that part of !
the Harvester Company's program
which concerns the elimination of |
types and sizes not absolutely neces-
sary. For instance, in 1918 one |
standard two-horse wagon of GER
tain size skein could be supplied In
376 types, each different in some |
feature. This large variety of types !
was rendered to sixteen in 1922.
Twenty-Five sizes of plows have
been eliminated. The same simpli-
fication has taken place in many
other lines. The advantage of such
a campaign of simplification to the
farmer, Of course, is quite obvious.
No other movement will have so
great an influence on the improve
ment of farm equipment service as
that of qualification