Document jmv4nBoNQQ0mKBrKdJw7jzXOp

t r. I I LEAD INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION o Graybar Building, 420 LsxJrtgton Avsaoe N*w York, N. Y. June 13, 1933. ii 'i> i w m iiw TO VaibTRB OF THE LEAD IKDU8TRIE8 A8S0CIATI0S: n ffw w n r w w v iij<>m*> r- LEAD IP PLUtfBIPO CODES Ever since the first of the year the Lead In dustrie* Association has been caking an Intensive drive to procure codification of plumbing codes In the thickly populated areas along the Atlantic seaboard, to strengthen the position of lead versus substitute caterlals. As you doubtless know, there has been a disturbing trend away froc l lead for cany years which has militated against its wide spread use In sons parts of the average home plumbing systea and has, therefore, decreased the volume of lead pipe and sheet used In plumbing. The Dlreotors of the Lead Industries Association 9 felt that, unless some of the regulations at present un favorable tc lead were modified, It was Illogical to expect I any noteable Increase In the demand for lead pluablng sup plies. Accordingly, In an economical way we have begun a modest but concerted effort to Improve the status of lead In pluablng codes and. If our work meets with success, pro pose gradually to expand our field. Formerly, we only en deavored to correct situations where members may have re quested assistance as In Washington and Buffalo. In connection with our work in lew Jersey, we have aroused so ouch Interest that, during the week of jtay 15th, we were Invited to be guests of the Kaater Plum bers Association of the State of Sew Jersey, at their Annual Convention In Atlantlo City. On short notice we prepared an exhibit emphasising some of the features of a plumbing code which we recommend - such as lead under bath room floors, service lines and shower pans - and calling at tention to the grave consequence for the plumbing craft which had attended the trend away from lead. We pointed out how the plumber who had neglected to oultlvate skill In the use of lead - which only a plumber can Install < properly - was enoouraglng Incompetent craftsmen to engage ; la plumbing. As a result of our work a speech was delivered by one of the master plumbers appealing to the convention to return to lead. A oopy of Jhl* address Is attached. i i- j { J|| w .IWSMUiW, ) lijmM. I'Wi--r i wm . .iiu liwi'Wi"^'J..4'Mli"-u ' u ifiw.M r, y LIA21783 9 -8- the oombined effect of our eduoational work plus the exhibit which the master pluabere had a ohanoe to <ee uid the lntereet in the eubjeot aroused by the lead epeeob oa the floor of the convention, caused -a resolution to be passed at follow*; - the strongest endorsement in favor of lead Z have ever seen by any plumbing organization! THZEZA8 through standardization and simplifi cation of oonneotlve devloes in the plumbing field there has been a constant tendency to introduce and use threaded connections and unions requiring little technical ability beyond a strong arm and a wrenoh, thus lessening the knowledge and meobanioal r*^nirewants for craftsmanship, and 1R2R2A3 the use of euoh devices has encouraged the employment of cheaper kinds of pipe and materials despite the known fact of their relatively short life when compared With lead which has been the plumbers* material since ancient days, to the detriment of the property owner in the lack of trouble free permansnoe of plumbing pipes and connections such as was his in 9 the days of lead waste and round wiped solder pluabere joints; now therefore be it RISOLVED by the Sew Jersey State Vaster Plumbers Association in Annual Veetlng assembled at Atlantlo City, (H.J.) this 30th day of Vay, 19M, that it is to the beBt interests of the property owner to hare a plumbing eyetem properly designed and installed with fined connections and branch wastes and vent# and with water services and water supplies of stand ard lead waste or water pipe of weights suitable for the several purposes, such pips to bt Installed by Journeymen plumbers skilled in the art of installing and connecting by means of round wiped plumbers joints; and to that end bs It further RZSOLVTD that copies of this resolution bs placed in the hands of every member of this organi zation with request that the purpose of it bs brought to the attention of the proper authorities in their several Jurisdictions, to tbs end that the use of lead rough work and water supply be Increased as rapidly and to as great an aztent as may bs pos sible. AJTD BI IT rURTHIR RI80LVID that the incoming Ezeoutlvs Board and sons committees advance this resolution at their sone meetings. W I.'1-IH ..-.'.W* K14I a IT--.TV , -ILl'-Mf fjiLPl M\j* '.IflgT "i*- l i A21784 1 -3- The Secretary of the convention was instructed to oommunlcate with the numerous local sections of muter plumbers throughout Eew Jersey, requesting them individually to help rcjtore lead to its rightful position in plumbing oodee. One result of this effort will be to facilitate our work in the State of Hew Jersey immensely. Moreover, it breaks the ice, eo to speak, and enables ue to approach the nearby States of Mew Tork, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and others with every prospect that we can duplicate the result in Kew Jersey, lithough we haven't sufficient funds to pursue our work on a nation wide scale, we shall be very glad to help any member who has a local situation to aset where lead is not receiving adequate consideration. Sincerely yours. o * o Secretary. n III III W n f jJgBgW WgiB* ^paBWwa^wijwuBiijflf :.. ' ~r- Jfc'JL`- ~MfttWV*lm ^~~r -;>. ;> 'frsMmt *- 7 7^*- -** - x - '*-^/ - r^~f. * T:~~ . *. l i A21785 A i a Gentlement - It Afford* as great pleasure to be granted this valuable opportunity to apeak to you briefly upon the subjeot of waye and mean* to strengthen and secure our position In the plumbing field. I appreciate the fact that our trade has greatly benefltted In recent years by the cooperation of manufacturers In the Improvement of fixtures. I also realise that their in terest In the plumber and In educating him In the art Of esti mating and salesmanship has been of material help to us. Bow. ever, I feel that , the members of our various associations, Individually and collectively, have to our own detriment al - lowed much of the art and craft to drop right out of our trad#, i, affecting our business and profits by encouraging unskilled competition. This we have done eimply by standing by while Our material! have been standardised and elmpllfled to such an extent that the services of the skilled craftsman may be and often are entirely dispensed with. - Had this condition been accompanied by a corres a ponding improvement In the quality of plumbing Installations wo could find no fsult, for our first consideration should bs for the people me serve. But In many Instances It has lead to less sanitary and less permanent installations, aad to work done by Incompetent handy men. This deplorable state of affairs must not he per mitted to continue and must look .to our associations for support and concerted effort In overcoming these conditions. One way to relieve the situation materially would be by the mors extensive uss of lead for the roughing In and for water services where possible. This can be accomplished by only slight revisions to plumbing codes In most esses, sad some of our far sighted members have already accomplished much In this respect In their own towns. 6uch revisions not only restore to the plumber his art and protect his business, but throve certain parts of the plumbing system now permitted to bs mads entirely In galvanised Iron pips. I wish to emphasise that the standardisation of plumbing materials Is highly commendable so long as it leads to Improved plumbing end guarantees satisfactory workmanship. But I wish to conclude ay talk to you, fellow members, with an earnest appeal for organised action in this direction, eo that we may, in the very near future, be pre pared to recover that very lucrative and desirable part Of a work which le essentially ours. l t f I N r.' THW !" M I N 1888.01