The Bulletin. 



Samples 



tested. 



267 

 810 

 493 



Received. 



Before October 20, I'JOa 



From October 20, 1903, to February 10, 1910. 

 From February 10, 1910. to April 4, 1910 



I Number 

 below 100' 

 Flash. 



Per Cent 



below 100° 



Flash. 



68 



29 



1 



25.5 



3.6 



.2 



STANDARD FOR QUALITY. 



The requirement for quality of oils used for general illuminating 

 purposes is "'not more than G per cent by weight of residue remain- 

 ing undistilled at 570° Fahr." The enforcement of this standard 

 will prevent the sale of most of the really bad oils. Rigid inspec- 

 tion has already eliminated some of the lower grade oils. 



Consumers of oil and retailers should remember that there will 

 continue to be various grades of oil sold by the same company. The 

 highest grades are usually worth the extra cost. 



Numerous complaints had been made to this Department regard- 

 ing inferior oils. Many of these complaints could be traced to the 

 nature and care of the lamps used, and some to the careless handling 

 of oils by wholesale and retail dealers. Others were found to be 

 due to the methods of the manufacturer or refiner. 



In the laboratory of the Oil Division many samples have been 

 distilled and the luminosity determined under similar conditions, 

 using a No. 1 ''Model" burner with a flat wick (American). A 

 comparison of 58 oils was made after classifying on the basis of 6 

 per cent residue: 



Kesidue at 570° F. 



Les.s I More 

 than 6% i than 6% 



Number of oils tested 



Candle Power (after Vi hour) 



Candle Power (after 7H hours) 



Drop in Candle Power (per cent)- 

 Viscosity (Engler-Ubbelohde) 



20 

 7.91 

 7.10 



10.2 

 1. II 



38 

 7.62 

 6.23 



IS. 6 

 1.17 



Notwithstanding the fact that the initial candle power was 3.6 

 per cent less, and more oil was left in the lamp, the actual and per- 

 centage drop was much greater for the high-residue oils. Of the 20 

 low-residue oils only one gave as much as 15 per cent drop. Of the 

 38 high-residue oils 58 per cent gave more than 15 per cent drop in 

 the seven hours. 



The oil immediately above 570 degrees Fahr. is a thin lubricating 

 oil unsuitable for burning in lamps of ordinary construction. The 



