Document V3yLZkwLmZ8emNEo7yvM9d13w

! REPROOU^O AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE " Bu r e a u o f Fo r eig n a n d Do me s t ic Co mme r c e WASHINGTON 25, D, C. Of f ic e o f In d u s t r y a n d c o mme r c e April JO* 1951 .--` .4 *>: J ,**' " ` i Kr* Wolcott Pitkin Chapman, Post Office Box 871 Greenwich* Connecticut HU.z'r<" i rl:? is- `V''-V-A .. .* ... , _ VIA fa . wi- ^-v-W :Vr*r ' vl.,sfcuve fox acknowledgment your plotter ofApril 24* addressed to <*e ftt;the Rational Bureau of Standards, concerning the activity bfthat Bureau in general,end; that of the Commodity Standard* Division, in particular At the effect, let me give you some b^kgroond information* v < . la 1921* when our work in simplification began* ve were fcftovn*iR fchsDiviaion of Simplified Tr&eUce* in the'Rational Bureau of Standard# of the V* B Department of Commerce* &nd.reatehliahed to cooperate with induatry in eliminating avoidable waste, through reduction lnnon-e$s<mtl&l sises nd varieties of manufactured products* In ^uly, 1927, the Bureau set up a Division of Trade Standards to collaborate with industry In developing Commercial Standards covering grades* Qualities Fnd testing of manufactured products* In July* 19^7* the Bureau combined the Division of Simplified Practice, and the Division of Trade Standards and assigned certain-,addition&l duties to & new Commodity standards Division. In July* 1950* the Commodity Standards Division was transferred, within the Department of Cosnseree* from the Rational Bureau'of Standards to #* the Office of Industry and Commerce, Bureau of foreign and Domestic Commerce, .where ve are functioning in the customary vay* Since the 1920`n the Department has been privileged to cooperate with American industries in formulating voluntary Simplified Practice Re commendations end voluntary Commercial Standards* on a national basis* This activity, initially advocated in e report* "Vasts in Industry", and published by McGrow Bill Book Company (1921), but now out of print, is described in the enclosed mimeographed material* At this point it Is pertinent to mention that we are assisting the Economic Cooperation Administration to introduce simplification to in dustries in the Marshnl1-nlnn countries us a useful tool in increasing productivity* Rfr \t>l /Record* o*f NtSTj Boy IC| Foldcf I " Coflrwodi S-Jcrn'Aa`r d s M 0itec^or; Co*r*qp -* r<4' 7/ I. j REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHVES ) ) /, Mr* Wolcott Pitkin Chapmen Page 2. The earlier sentences In your letter of April 24 deal with the I technical and scientific work of the Rational Bureau of Standards* The Director* Dr. E* U. Condon* would he glad to respond to yot^questions* I an sure. As a preliminary to any inquiry you may address to the Bureau of Standards* X suggest that you study! (a) the recent Annual Deports (fiscal) of the Department of Commerce; (b) the current Congressional Directory; and (c) the current U. 3. Governmental Organisation Manual. These * references may he consulted at the following depository libraries* in Rev fork City; College of the City of Rev York* Columbia University* Coover Uhlonf Fordhem University! Rev York University! Rev York Public (Astor Branch); and Rev York Public (Lenox Branch) I have discussed my own Division first because you indicated in your letter that that me what you wanted.' If X knew the use to which you desire to put this information, I might do a better Job. Anyway* you are welcome to poee questions as to the details of our activity. The enclosed folder describing the three scientific periodicals that the National Bureau of Standards publishes is for your interests Sincerely yours* Edwin V. Sly* Chief, Commodity Standards Division. 6 Rnolosttree^ * ' Blind CC: Dr. E. U. Condon, -.rti 7r 7 -v-i.v:.'./: \ v r-v.Tv 'it. . 7.; *7. v. % iV :: . t : .'It .? ' - fbi '* ? **' J1 tv* ' 1 * VU 7'V-* 1 * *