Evening star., 1937-12-26
National Bureau of
Standards
BY FREDERIC J. HASKlN.

Four miles from the center of the city
OF Washington, D. c., occupying more
than q dozen modern buildings, spaced
over q woody grove Of many acres, is
located the National Bureau of Stand
ards Though large enough in size and
important enough in function to be an
Independent establishment Of the Federal
Government, the bureau is a part Of the
United States Department Of Commerce
and was created by an act Of Congress,
approved March 3, 1901, for continuance
of the duties Of the old Office of Stand
ard Weights and Measures Of the United
States Coast and Geodetic Survey. The
bureau is charged with "the development,
construction, custody and maintenance
OF reference and working standards, and
their intercompari.on, improvement and
application In science, engineering, In
dustry and commerce"
- -
Covering field of fifteen major actiH-
ties and involving nearly $50 subjects
ranging from the strength and durable
ity of milady's fine wearables to the fire
resistance Of steel and concrete buildings,
this scientific institution of the National
Government Is maintained not only for
the guidance in buying by Government
agencies, but also for the public. BY
determining for the Federal Government
and other unsupported agencies wheth-
er commodities comply with specification
requirements, the bureau serves contract
buyers directly; it also serves overtime
counter buyers indirectly by bringing
about Improvements in the quality Of
commodities. thereby enabling such con-
sumers to obtain better goods at no In
crease In cost or more value for the same
money expended. Manufacturers and
consumers interested in establishing di-
nlensional and quality standards, elimi-
mating excess sizes and varieties, have
the active cooperation Of the institution.
Since the use of specifications Is not
so practicable to the over-the counter
buyer, contract buyers-those who pur-
chase large quantities of certain commod-
tiles on definite written contracts-are,
through the assistance of the bureau,
enabled to set forth their requirements
IN the form OF specifications submitted
for competitive bidding, and In this way
are In position to tell manufacturers ex-
actly what they want. This passes to the
ultimate consumer benefit that he can
not advantageously get by working sin
gle handed. This procedure has also
been the means Of developing an ever
increasing list OF manufacturers whose
productive output meets nationally rec
ognlzed standards, and are willing, when
requested to do so, to furnish commodi-
ties certified to comply with require
ments and tests Of technical specifica-
tions
Only few years ago Mr.. and Mrs.
Consumer discovered, for example, that
manufacturers of bedsteads were max
ing seventy-eight sizes, thus increasing
the average cost of this household need,
and obviously the consumer was paying
the bill. A conference of representative
bed manufacturers, distributors and con-
sumers was called. Those present were
convinced that greater economy in pro-
duction and more efficient distribution
would be assured through concentration
upon stock sizes of bedsteads which fill
the major demand. The action Of that
conference, supplemented by subsequent
revision OF a representative committee
OF the industry, has resulted In q reduc-
ton from seventy-eight sizes to four
that Is, one length and four widths.
The establishment Of grades and sizes
Is voluntary matter with business and
user groups, the Federal Government
cooperating only upon request. ALI in
terested parties are given an opportunity
to express their views, and since the bu-
reau acts as an unbiased or neutral
agency IN conducting tests and suggesting
standards as q result of these tests. the
public IS apparently becoming more de-
slrous to purchase standard brands of
merchandise
However, the bureau does not extend
its tests to include whole lines of COM
petlng products, for no authority has
been granted for this. Bills have been
introduced in Congress to grant such
authority, and to provide funds for the
purpose, but have never found favorable
action. This appears to be wise, since
the public is not so much interested in
the elimination Of competition as It IL in
pelng assured Of standard or quality
products.
The General Federation of Womens
Clubs, deciding that it wanted a test Of
womens washable gloves to determine
snrlnkage from laundering, strength of
seams. resistance and abrasion; Of hos
1ery along the same general lines, and Of
shoes to determine leather resistance.
ability to hold shape, f1exibility and pres
sure, co-operated with the bureau so
that manufacturers could have the re-
suits. The enterprising spirit of a few
hundred women started q benefit for
many million women. and without sd-
verse criticism or publicity to any manu-
1acturer. Manufacturers willingly CO.
operated. for few such enterprises main
tain scientific equipment for standard
testing OF materials and finished prod
ucts. Again, what was accomplished was
not the exceptional case, but illustrative
OF what has been done and is being done
scientifically and comparatively In many
other lines.
- ~
Automotive engines have reached slch
q stage OF perfection, or apparent per-
lection, that the ordinary user can almost
forget them. The Federal Government
as user, however, cannot, so that the
Bureau IS called upon to make nuner-
GUS tests involving many features, These
tests have yielded much valuable infor-
nation Tor the ordinary user. Thousands
OF letters are received by the bureau max
ing inquiries about engines, and as a re-
suit OF tests carried on, correspondents
are given, through direct answers and
pupicatlons, full benefit of all findings,
subjects OF safety control, riding ouaIi-
Ties, brakes and headlights have been
even special attention and the valuable