Fl BRUARY 6, 1919] 



NATURE 



455 



I hie function oi the central laboratory is to conduct 

 n search bearing on the manufactures of all (In- works, 

 and thai of each control laboratory is t<> serve the 

 immediate requirements of the works to which it is 



attached. 



(3) Laboratories planned to serve a wide range nf 

 interests in various industries in connection with 

 isolated problems, such as the Mellon liistii 1, 

 Industrial Research, Pittsburgh, or ordinary com- 

 mercial laboratories such as that of A. D. Little and 

 1 loston. 

 14) Laboratories designed to serve the needs of one 

 particular industry working on a co-operative hasis, 

 such as the laboratory of the National Canners' Asso- 

 ciation, U.S.A. The lal of the proposed re- 

 search associations in Greal Britain would fall into 

 this class. 



ati laboratories carrying oul researches occa- 

 sional!) of an industrial characti r, Inn not necessaril) 

 for anj particular linn, such as the National Physical 

 Laboratory, 'he Bureau of Standards, U.S.A., and 

 various university laboratories. 



Tin majority of firms, particular!) when commenc- 

 ing research work, find it expedient to combine neces- 

 routim testing with research work, at any rate 

 in the initial -ta^es of development. There are many 

 reasons in favour of this course. Both routine iesiino 

 and research have much in common, and can make 

 use of ih. same building and much .if tlv same equip- 

 ment. The routine testing department serves as a 

 training ground and nursery for some members ol 

 the research staff. Further, through the work involved 

 in routine testine the research department is kepi in 

 1 lose contacl with other works departments. 



In the later stages of development, however, and 

 tally in large and complex organisations com- 

 prising several works each requiring routine testing. 

 it bed I ible to establish a separate .111. 1, il 



possible, central laboratory for research work alone. 



Ih. laboratories referred to in this paper are con- 

 sidered to comprisi both routine and research work, 

 as their combination is the policy most likely to be 

 adopted by manufacturers initiating research organisa- 

 tions. 



The functions of such a works research organisation, 

 which involve the arrangement of the department in a 

 number of sections, may be classified thus : — 



(1) Testing of raw mat. rial supplies and the estab- 

 lishment of a suitable technical basis for purchasing. 



(2) Production of new materials or substitutes for 

 those already in use, as, for instance, high-speed tool- 

 steels, improved magnetic sheet-steel, etc. 



1 it Investigation of difficulties arising in the manu- 

 factui ing organisation. 



For controlling and main- 

 taining at their proper level technical processes in 

 manufai hire. 



I;) Development of new and improved processes and 

 their establishmenl on a manufacturing scale on most 

 . . onomii al lint s. 



(6) Development of methods for the treatment of 

 factor) waste and scrap for bv-products. 



1-1 Investigation of phenomena required in the 

 compilation of fundamental data for designing new 



apparatus. 



1S1 Development of new tools, appliances, and 

 methods of testing; improvement and standardisation 



of those existing. 



(g) Investigations of operating troubles and servii e 

 ■ itners, 

 Investigations for the information of financiers 



of the possibilities of new projects of a scientific 



lit) Physiological and psychological investigations 



2571, VOL. I02] 



relating to vocational selection ami for determining 

 the most efficient means of employing human services. 

 (12) Research in pure science. 



11.— Divi ihe Organisation. 



I he character of the industry determines mainlv the 

 scope and nature of the work to be done and, con- 

 sequently, the number of sections of the laboratory. 

 In rolling mills, for example, sections devoted to 

 chemical, metallurgical, microscopic, and physical 

 testing are sufficient to meet the main requirements. 

 In the electrical and allied industries the number of 

 sections is perhaps as great as will be found in any 

 industry. These are given below, together with a brief 

 Statement of their functions for the general kinds of 

 electrical and mechanical engineering works. In the 

 case of a small works, some sections, such as the 

 workshop, may be provided in the manufacturing de- 

 partments. It will be noted that some of these sec- 

 tions deal wholly or largely with routine testing, and 

 that the\ are subsidiary to other sections. 



Chemical {Organic and Inorganic). — Co-operating 

 with all other sections and undertaking routine 

 analysis of incoming materials, ferrous, non-ferrous, 

 and organic, for works use, and of materials in process 

 of manufacture, and investigating and standardising 

 speedy methods of routine testing. 



Mechanical Testing. — Dealing with all routine ten- 

 sile, transverse, compression, hardness, and torsion 

 lesis on metals and alloys in sheet, rod, or wire form; 

 nsts on textile fabrics, papers, fibre and other in- 

 sulating materials, cements, etc.; destruction tests on 

 ass, milled parts, and the testing of scale models. 



Metallurgical (Ferrous and Non-ferrous). — Respon- 

 sible for advising on the suitability of metals and their 

 appropriate treatment for use in apparatus and in 

 work's equipment and tools; for supervising annealing 

 and other heat treatment processes; for the conduct 

 of investigations for the production of improved metals 

 and alloys; for investigating failures in metals. 



Photomicrographic. — Co-operating with the metal- 

 lurgical and other sections in preparing specimens for 

 microscopic examination and in photographing them. 



Electrical. — Responsible for special tests on insula- 

 tors, conductors, and resistances, both when received 

 and as required during manufacture; for special tests 

 on finished machines, oscillograph investigations, etc. 



Magnetic. — Responsible for tests on steel forgings 

 and electrical sheet-steel for permeabilitv, hysteresis, 

 and eddy losses, and on permanent magnets for 

 remanence and coercivity. 



Optical. — Dealing with investigations and tests of 

 an optical character, such as the examination of large 

 forgings by optical and X-ray methods; the applica- 

 tion of colour testing to routine work, optical examina- 

 tion of screw threads and gauges. 



Illuminating. — Undertaking investigations in con- 

 nection with lamp manufacture. 



Physical. —Undertaking all investigations of a 

 physical character not optical or electrical, such as 

 investigations connected with standards of measure- 

 ment, heat transmission, acoustics, etc. 



Pyromctric. — Responsible for the standardisation, 

 repair, regular checking, and supervision of works 

 pyrometers; selection and installation of appropriate 

 instruments where required, and manufacture of - 

 pan- lor work's use; advising on thermostatic control, 

 methods of high-temperature measurement, refractory 

 materials. 



Materials. -Responsible for the standards of si/e 



and quality of materials used in the works, and for ihe 



of mate-rials purchas. ,1 after appropriate 



chemical, mechanical, electrical, microscopic, and in- 



