EEPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1925 117 



a descriptive catalogue of the Museum collections in metrology and 

 communication. 



The assistant curator, Paul E. Garber, made a first-hand study of 

 an original Conestoga wagon in Lancaster, Pa., with a view to 

 renovating the model which has been in the Museum for some time. 

 Credit is due to John J. Bowman and to Mr. and Mrs. Amos S. 

 Gingrich, all of Lancaster, and to Ferdinand T. Haschka, of New 

 York City, for cooperation in the investigations by Mr. Mitman and 

 Mr. Garber. As opportunity offered, Mr. Garber has carried for- 

 ward studies begun last year looking to the construction of a model 

 of Sir Hiram Maxim's steam airplane of 1896, and is also engaged 

 in securing data for a descriptive catalogue of the aeronautical 

 collection in the Museum. 



Success with industrial plant models has brought numerous re- 

 quests for information as to the manner in which models and parts 

 of models may be constructed, also appeals for suggestions for 

 visualizing phenomena of many sorts. 



The curator of textile, F. L. Lewton, and one assistant devoted 

 as much time as could be spared to the preparation of comprehensive 

 technical definitions of textile fabrics based upon authentic speci- 

 mens in the Museum collections. This has meant careful examina- 

 tion of available current textile literature, as the technical mill and 

 trade terms used in older works of reference are often not in accord 

 with those in current use in the United States. A little progress 

 has been made toward the completion of a fabrics glossary based on 

 actual specimens, as the Museum collection of named textiles has 

 been steadily increased. 



The United States Patent Office has made frequent reference to 

 the collections and to the technical books in the sectional library for 

 data in passing on the claims of patentees. In one case a chief 

 examiner cited certain exhibits in the National Museum as his reason 

 for denying the claims of an inventor. An examination of the 

 exhibits cited convinced the attorney for the inventor that his client 

 could not establish his claim. That the Museum is a valuable ad- 

 junct to the Patent Office is (gradually being recognized. 



Curator Lewton and Assistant Curators Watkins and Whitebread 

 furnished special information on industrial raw material and the 

 identification of specimens, from time to time during the year, to 

 the bureaus of the Department of Agriculture and to the United 

 States Tariff Commission. Identification of specimens of fibers and 

 fabrics, gums, resins, seeds, and woods for individuals, both in 

 and out of the Government service, has continued to be a regular 

 part of the work. The curator furnished identification of cottons 

 and cottonseeds introduced by the Office of Foreign Seed and Plant 



