NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY, 
larger source of income was that earned by the Laboratory in the form 
of fees. . Also certain technical institutions, like. the Institute of 
Mechanical Engineers, Institute of Civil Engineers, Institute of 
Naval Architects have contributed to the Laboratory budget, in some 
cases by simple donations, but more frequently by grants in aid of some 
definite scheme of research. 
The Royal Society, however, after this method of management had 
been followed for about seventeen years, felt that the difficulties were 
too great to permit of their carrying the financial responsibility any 
longer, and a change was decided upon, which came into operation 
“during 1918, when the Laboratory was taken over by the Department 
of Scientific and Industrial Research. 
In addition to the Director, superintendents, and principal assistants, 
there is a large scientific staff, graded as “ senior assistants,” “ assistants,” 
and ‘junior assistants,” as well as a large staff of others, less highly 
trained, but often of very great value and experience, who are classed as 
“ observers,” while there is a further complement of skilled workmen. 
The work of the Laboratory may be discussed under two divisions. 
First, there are tests on apparatus submitted by manufacturers, 
Government departments, or any other persons or corporations. 
Secondly, there is research, which may be in the realm of “pure 
science” or, on the other hand, for the elucidation of problems arising 
out of industrial problems. The opportunities of conducting research 
vary from one department to another, but the ideal is that members of 
the scientific staff shall have opportunity for doing some research 
work. ’ 
In Bushy House is located the division which deals with electrical 
measurements of a fundamental kind. Here is installed the standard 
“ampere balance,” by which the electro-magnetic attraction between 
standard coils carrying a current is accurately weighed. By means of 
this apparatus it is possible to determine the value of the ampere in 
“absolute measure.” Besides this there is the Lorenz apparatus for 
the measurement of the unit of electrical resistance in absolute measure. 
This machine was designed by Mr. F. E. Smith, the superintendent of 
the Electricity Department, and constructed by the Engineering De- 
partment. In the hands of.Mr. Smith it has yielded results whose 
accuracy is universally admitted. The calibration of standard resist- 
ances and of standard cells is undertaken by this department. For the 
former purpose the double bridge method is generally used. or many 
years Mr, Albert Campbell belonged to the staff, and he carried out 
numerous alternating current measurements. Among the many 
ingenious devices due to Mr. Campbell are the vibration galvanometer 
and the microphone hummer. Mr. Campbell resigned in 1919, and is 
succeeded by Mr. D. W. Dye, who had worked with him for some years. 
Tt would be interesting to tell of the most valuable war work done by 
this department, but in the absence of definite authority to do so, it is 
safer to be silent. 
Another department, still housed partly in Bushy House, is Ther- 
mometry. This branch grew very rapidly in 1918 and 1919, owing 
to an enactment that all clinical thermometers offered for sale had to 
bear the National Physical Laboratory pass mark. During September, 
1919, about 123,000 were tested, the fee being almost nominal. 
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