SYMBOLIC NOMENCLA TURE. 1 1 5 



Another system consists in using numbers for the machines 

 and numbers for the pieces. This gives isolation and brevity, 

 but no suggestiveness. A serious objection to it is the danger 

 of blurring the numbers together, or of transposition in writing 

 or reading them ; also in the fact that either number cannot be 

 used alone, as it can in the case of letters and numbers. 



A similar system to the above consists in the use of letters for 

 both symbols. It has the same disadvantages, and the additional 

 one of a limitation in the quantity of letters at disposal. 



Our system, as finally decided upon, is as follows: Machine 

 names and piece names are determined by the designer, in gen- 

 eral according with the principles already pointed out, being, of 

 course, made as brief and suggestive as possible, with no two 

 machine names alike, and no two piece names alike in the same 

 machine. In this nomenclature no positive laws can be followed 

 but those of common sense and good English. A machine symbol 

 consists of a group of three arbitrary letters capitals. A piece 

 symbol consists of an arbitrary number and follows the machine 

 symbol, connected by a hyphen ; thus FPA-2 might symbolize 

 the force-pump handle before alluded to smallest size. The 

 machine symbol may be used alone when required, as FPA. 



As thus described, these symbols fully possess the qualities of 

 isolation and brevity. To make them also suggestive, some atten- 

 tion must be paid to what letters to use. In practice, we aim to 

 make the first two letters the initials of the general name of the 

 machine, and the last letter one of an alphabetical series which 

 will represent the sizes of the machine. An example of this is 

 shown in the symbol for the smallest-sized force pump FPA. If 

 there is any chance of a future smaller or intermediate size, gaps 

 should be left in the alphabetical order. This " initial " method 

 cannot always be strictly followed, because of such duplicates as 

 FPA for force pump and foot press. The remedy would be to 

 change one initial for one beginning some synonymous adjective, 

 that is, foot presses might be symbolized TPA, assuming that it 

 stands for treadle press. Usually the least important machine 

 should be thus changed. From this it will be seen that, in de- 

 fining the theory of this scheme, the words " arbitrary letters " 



