Evening star., 1923-02-25
RADIO STANDARDIZATION
/, GROWS MORE ESSENTIAL.
Public Demanding Dependable Service
| and Greater Degree of Uniformity
inApparatus on Sale.

turers who furnished equipment for
the service.
Vacuum Tubes Important.
One of the most important and diff
| cult efforts at Standardization being
| made by the Navy at the time of the
advent of radiophone broadcasting
was in connection with vacuum tubes,
especially those used as detectors and
amplifiers. AS a result OF these ef-
forts. the average life of these tubes
was increased from 100 hours to 1000
hours in the early stages of their
development, although. unfortunate. .
ly, an agreement among the principal
manufacturers on such relatively
unimportant adjunct as the tube
socket or holder could not be brought
about. Special adapters had to be
manufactured to support the tuee OF
one manufacturer in the socket or
another manufacturer.
This will illustrate the Importance
one hand and the difficulties encoun-
tered in endeavoring to standardize
on simple accessories on the other
hand.
: Now the demand for more or less
complete Standardization on quality
and interchangeability Of parts is
voiced by the general public, and this
demand must be complied with re-
gardless of difficulties. because once
standardization is effected the ap-
proved standard articles OF apparatus
will undoubtedly be given prefer
.ence by the trade and the purchasing
public.
An important meeting on stand
ardization was held on January IL in
the Engineering Societies building in
New York city, which was attended
by representatives of the principa
manufacturers and distributors OF
radio equipment, representatives or
the Institute Of Radio Engineers. the
American Institute of Electrical En-
gineers. the American engineering
Standards committee. and representa-
tives Of the Army radio, the Navy
radio and the bureau Of standards.
Approximately 100 accredited rep
resentatives OF the radio industrial
ganizations interested and the gov
ernment radio agencies participated
In the proceedings.
After a full discussion OF the gen.
eral subject OF standardization in
radio two resolutions were adopted
Cd That standards for radio ap-
paratus and service should be formu-
lated, and,
(2) That broadly representative
national committee on radio stand
ardization should be formed under
the leadership of the Institute Of
Radio Engineers and American Insti-
tute of Electrical Engineers, under
the procedure of the American en-
gineering standards committee.
Thus start has. been made look
ing toward a comprehensive program
of Standardization in radio in the
United States.
Advisory Committee.
An advisory committee of thirteen
members was appointed at the New
York meeting to assist in the organi-
zation of the national committee and
the necessary technical subcommit-
tees.
That this attempt at standardiza-
ton in radio, consistent with forth
coming developments in the art
which can be foreseen and even those
which cannot be 'oresoon at this time,
will prove successful, there cannot
now be any doubt. Not only is
radio fan and desired by the respon-
sible dealer. but the responsible manu-
facturers likewise desire to have
this difficult problem solved before a
condition bordering on chaos ensues
in this important industry. From the
Standardization in radio IS as i'm
portant as Standardization in any
other Of our essential large in
dustries. Radio constitutes the
equivalent or an extremely important
force in war and. il this force is to
be used at its maximum efficiency in
emergencies, apparatus Of standard
designs and proved merit must be
available or at least developed so
that it can be produced quickly and
in large quantities.
To standardize in radio is a most
difficult task because radio as a force
is as intangible as it is mysterious
and it's effects are as variable under
differing conditions as it Is theoretic-
ally all-pervasive. With the ever
growing demand for its application
in practical service, however, and the
consequent large quantities of radio
apparatus in daily use by the general
public, the problem must be alta ed
and solved in such manner that this
ever increasingly important industry
may be maintained on a high plane,
protection afforded the consumer and
the national interests safeguarded,
without, however. hindering the
gradual unfolding Of this most fas-
cinating science or delaying the ad-
vent Of the worldwide service which
1t Is destined to ultimately afford.
In our endeavors to standardize
radio we are always confronted with
the fact that revolutionary changes
in the radio art are likely to be
brought about any day, due to new
discoveries or Inventions. Any pro
gram of Standardization obviously
must provide for such contingencies,
even though Standardization itself
must temporarily suffer as a conse-
Quence.