Evening star., 1927-05-26
Us. T0EXAM|NE
NEW TAXI METERS.
If Slipping Wheels Add Unfair
Charge, Bureau Plans to
Find Out.

Uncle Sam is going to find out how
much slippage of taxicab wheels on
wet or icy streets affects the little
meter which is registering the bad
news" for the customer.
At the request of manufacturers OF
transmission-drive taximeters-a type
which is geared to the rear wheel
system-Dr. George X. Burgess. di-
rector of the Bureau of Standards.
announced before the National Con-
ference on Weights and Measures to-
day that the Bureau will conduct an
investigation of the efficiency and coy
rectness of such meters now coming
into popular use.
Representatives of two manufac-
turers said fears that the new-type
meters were unfair to the passengers
are not we'll founded, and both de.
clared thorough investigation by
| the Government will prove their con-
| tention that the transmissiondrive
registers are accurate, economical
and effective.
Meter Is Defended.
J. w. Weibley of the Pittsburgh
| TaXimeter Co. declared that the
transmission meter will prevent un-
| scrupulous taxi drivers from tamper.
ing with the gears in order to over
charge the passengers. II. w. Baker
of the Ohmar Fare Register Co.,
| Dayton, Ohio, asserted that tests by
his company had shown that over
charging by slipping and skidding of
the rear wheels was negligible. The
old type meters, it was pointed out.
were attached to the front wheels
and were constantly getting out of
order.
| The conference today adopted a
set of specifications for lubricating
oil bottles, in use at gasoline filling
stations. and laid down "tolerances"
to be allowed in measuring oil with
these bottles. The conference was
informed that investigation had
shown many types of bottles in use.
some of them not measures at all,
| in the strict sense of the word.
The approved bottles must be of
clear glass, plainly marked with their
capacities and with a graduation line
marked one-quarter of an inch below
the spout, indicating full measure.
| The spout must be free from obstruc-
tions and not more than six inches
long.
"Tolerances" Are Allowed.
"Tolerances" are to be allowed only
| III excess measure, nOI III UeiICieliCN.
A tolerance" of 1.S cubic inches will
be permitted in quart-size bottles. The
report was presented by the confer
ence committee on specifications and
tolerances.
| Charles NJ. Fuller. county sealer,
Los Angeles, declared the confer snce
should take up the problem of wheth-
er grease should be sold by liq LId
measure or avoirdupois weight.
Harry M. Roeser of the Bureau of
Standards explained the need for
suitable outfits with which to test
motor truck scales. S. 7. Griffith.
chief of the division of weights and
measures, Baltimore, outlined educa-
tional work in his city in connection
with weights and measures.
Inspect Primary Standards.
Delegates to the conference yester-
day afternoon were granted the rare
privilege of inspecting the primary
standards Of length and weight. care
fully preserved in a special vault at
the Bureau of Standards. Only three
persons know the combination to the
vault, the visitors were told.
i They saw in operation the machines
/ which are used in testing automobile
tires to destruction, the experimental
chamber. where airplane engines are
tested under the same conditions of
temperature and air pressure as pre-
vail when a plane is in fight at high
attitudes, and other apparatus.