356 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[April 1, 1913. 



department hose specifications, which we already referred to. 

 As previously stated, the accumulated experience of the 

 Factory Mutual Laboratories during the last live years showed 

 that much more specific and definite requirements regarding rub- 

 ber lining would have to be included in the specifications before 

 the situation could be improved. A considerable amount of ex- 

 perience backed up with experimental work showed pretty clearly 

 what was necessary to produce good hose, and a new set of 

 specifications were accordingly drawn up in the latter part of 



1910. At the same time the Underwriters' Laboratories prepared 

 more definite specifications and presented them at the annual 

 meeting of the National Fire Protection Association in May, 



1911. The two specifications differed somewhat, however, and 

 the matter was referred back to the Hose Committee in order 

 that the two organizations might have an opportunity of agree- 

 ing upon a uniform standard. A number of conferences fol- 

 lowed and a specification was finally drawn up satisfactory to 

 both organizations. It was formally adopted by the Factory 

 Mutual Companies in December, 1911, and by the National Fire 

 Protection Association in May. 1912. Owing to the various 

 delays, the Mutual Companies have not yet put these new speci- 

 fications into eflfect, but in the near future the manufacturers 

 of underwriter hose will be notified that after a certain date, 

 approval will be withdrawn in cases where the hose is not made 

 in accordance with the new specifications. The specifications 

 have already been sent to the manufacturers and in a few cases 

 they have voluntarily expressed their satisfaction with them 

 and stated that they were heartily in favor of the change. 



The most important points where the new specifications differ 

 from the old are with respect to the rubber lining. The change 

 consists simply of a more definite statement of what w-as re- 

 quired in the old specifications. The new specifications call for 

 40 per cent, of fine Para instead of pure Para, and specify tests 

 which the compound must meet, including acetone extract, free 

 and total sulphurs, alcoholic potash extract, tensile strength, 

 elongation and the so-called permanent set. 



In closing, it may be stated that the only object of the Mutual 

 Companies in this matter of hose specifications is to make it 

 possible for their members to obtain good hose. The work of 

 testing and inspection is done without charge to the manu- 

 facturers, and it has always been the intention to treat them 

 fairly and co-operate with them as far as they would allow. 



Referring to the situation in 1908 between the manufacturers 

 and the National Fire Protection Association the author says : 



''It may be stated that after a long series of conferences 

 between the National Fire Protection Association and the manu- 

 facturers, a set of specifications were drawn up which, at the 

 time, were satisfactory to both parties, and which allowed a 

 much lower grade of rubber than the present specifications. The 

 manufacturers insisted, however, that these specifications should 

 be used merely as a laboratory standard, and not furnished 

 freely to purchasers. In other words, hose would be approved 

 by the Underwriters Laboratories without its becoming gen- 

 erally known that it was all made in accordance with a definite 

 set of specifications. Whatever may have been the understand- 

 ing, or misunderstanding, the specifications w^ere used freely 

 throughout the country by the L'nderwriters' Laboratories. The 

 manufacturers accordingly cancelled their agreement and 

 dropped all negotiations." 



REPORT OF THE RUBBER SECTION OF THE 

 AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY. 



OVER 100.000 AUTO-CAHS IN NEW YOHK. 



The automobile is exceedingly popular in the State of New 

 York. This .State owns over one-tenth of all the motor cars of 

 the L'nited States. In 1912 the number of automobile owners 

 registered with the Secretary of State was 107.262. an increase 

 of 21,961 over the number recorded in 1911. In the same period 

 45.347 chauffeurs were licensed, an increase of 9.457 over the 

 previous year. The registrations were divided ns follow-? : Ple.is- 

 ure vehicles, 95.484; commercial cars. 9.767; dealers. 1.716; ex- 

 empt vehicles, 295. 



By D. A. Cutler, Chairman of the Section. 

 [Pkesested at the Third Ixtern.\tional KeitBER Confere.nce.] 

 IN regard to what the Rubber Section of the American Chem- 

 ■^ ical Society is endeavoring to accomplish, I would say that 

 in the first place it aims to select or to elaborate standard 

 methods for the analysis of vulcanized rubber products, and to 

 define these methods with sufiicient precision so that they will 

 yield accurate results. 



Having agreed upon such a series of analytical methods, the 

 Section will endeavor to secure for them the endorsement of 

 the American Chemical Society. If successful in this, the meth- 

 ods will then be puljlished as the official methods of the Society. 

 The great advantage of such official methods would lie in the 

 fact tli3t analyses made according to them would possess, in very 

 high degree, impersonal validity. This would be an indis- 

 pensable factor in cases of dispute, whether forensic or not. and 

 in all cases in which the public might be concerned. 



On the other hand, with reference to individual practice, our 

 Section would have no desire to urge unduly the adoption of 

 the official methods, but we do permit ourselves to hope that 

 these methods will so commend themselves by their evident and 

 inherent practicability, definiteness and accuracy, that chemists 

 will be glad to adopt them in their practice. 



In the second place, our committee is endeavoring to bring 

 about uniformity in the manner of stating the specifications to 

 which consumers wish the manufacturers of rubber goods to 

 conform. 



As to this matter we do not wish to be misunderstood. Our 

 aim is not at all to formulate specifications of any sort, much 

 less to impose them upon anyone. For if it is the province of 

 the consumer to specify the goods which he will accept, and if 

 it is equally the province of the manufacturer, after studying his 

 market, to decide what goods he will make, we have no desire 

 to interfere. 



What the Section hopes to do in this field is to provide official 

 terms and phrases and to define them so carefully and precisely 

 that the consumer may state his specifications by means of 

 them, if he will, without any ambiguity. 



At present the Rubber Section of the American Chemical 

 Society has over 100 members. These include nearly all the 

 manufacturers of rubber products, as well as a great many 

 consumers. The committee believes itself, therefore, to be in 

 possession of exceptional facilities to serve both these interests. 



There is no desire on our part to gain any information, or to 

 pry into any processes or policies which the interested repre- 

 sentatives may wish to guard, but it is our sincere desire to do 

 what we may along the hnes indicated, to minimize the chances 

 of ambiguity, confusion, and misunderstanding between the 

 manufacturers and consumers of rubber goods. 



THE CHEMISTS TO GIVE A COMPLIMENTARY DINNER. 



The presiding officers of si.x of the important chemical so- 

 cieties of the country, including The Chemists' Club. The -Amer- 

 ican Institute of Chemical Engineers and The American Chemical 

 Society, intend to give a dinner on April 19, at the Chemists' 

 Club in New York — and at the same time to present testimonials — 

 to Dr. W. H. Nichols, president of the Eighth International 

 Congress of .Applied Chemistry, "in appreciation of his unswerv- 

 ing fidelity to the welfare of chemistry of the United States, 

 and more particularly for his self-sacrificing services in behalf 

 of the recent congress." On the same occasion there will be 

 a presentation to Dr. Bernhard C. Hesse, the secretary, "whose 

 devotion to his duties gave constant evidence of high efficiency." 

 Professor Edward W. Morley, the honorary president, has been 

 asked to preside. 



