The Chemical Age, Vol. 54, No. 1403

V O L . LTV S A T U R D A Y , M A Y 1 8 , 1 9 4 ® o d . P e r C o p t

N O . I 4 ° 3

1

^. REGISTERED AS A NEWSPAPER POST FREE 8D.

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PRACTICAL RECOVERY

... ■-»—«—«— '»„-¡"I ' ' " —

SOLVENTS

b y

“ A C T IC A R B O N E ”

m ethods

Acetone Alcohol

Ether Petrol 4

Rubber solvents Tri-chlor Esters

C o m p lete P la n ts for V en tilation , R e c o v e r y and D istilla tio n d e sig n e d and in s ta lle d .

Our la rg e W a r-tim e e x p e r ie n c e is a v a ila b le n ow , for stu d y of P e a c e -tim e p ro jects.

PRICE STUTFIELD & CO. LTD.

HO, FENCHURCH STREET, E .G 3.

T e l . R O Y A L Ï0 1 1 ’G r a m s : E x c o n s e c , F e n , L o n d o n

T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ma y xS , 1 9 4 6

“ NEPTUNE" WORKS, DAVIS R0AD.T01W0RTH, Surrey 'Phçwwt : ElmbfWjt» 5900 ‘Gratas : Slebr, Surbiton

PUMPS

FOR ALL PURPOSES

C e n trifu ga l] and D ia p h r a g m

\ Y to 4" dia.

PETROL, ELECTRIC OR HANDPOWER.

N E W A N D R E C O N D I T I O N E D . S A L E O R H I R E .

T H E

GREENWICH PUMP

& PLANT CO., LTD.

DENHAM STREET, GREENWICH, S.E. 10.

Telephone: G R E E N W IC H 3189.

S IE B E , G O R M M & Co

^{L t d}

G A S M A S K S

o i all types

O X Y G E N R E S U S C IT A T IO N A P P A R A T U S fo r re vivin g persons, apparently d ro w n e d , asphyxiated

o r eleccrlc-shocked.

A S B E S T O S , A C I D & W A T E R P R O O F C L O T H I N G G L O V E S , G O G G L E S , D U S T R E S P IR A T O R S , etc.

S T E E L D R U M S

T h ese d ru m s are welded th ro u gh o u t and are m anufactured in large q uantities T h e y can be supplied painted, gal- vanlsed o r tinned.

A ls o manufactured in stainless steel. C a p aci­

ties ranging from 20 to 150 gallons.

FLUOR S P A R

HIGH GRADE 97/98%

Ca F2 C O N T E N T

is now available

_______ from ---

G L E B E MI NE S L I M I T E D

Ma y. iS, 1 9 4 6 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E

UNIFLOC REAGENTS LTD., 55

— SWANSEA

^— G ram s : Unifloc, Swansea fo r A C ID N E U T R A L IZ A T IO N , C L A R IF IC A T IO N O F L IQ U ID S , D E W A T E R IN G O F S L U D G E S , E F F L U E N T P U R IF IC A T IO N , F I L T R A T IO N A N D F L O C C U L A T IO N , P IC K L IN G L IQ U O R T R E A T M E N T , P U R IF IC A T IO N O F T R A D E W A S T E , S E D I­

M E N T A T IO N A N D T H IC K ­

E N I N G , S E P A R A T IO N O F w i'sr-r» " -— r --- re*” ' S O L ID S FR O M L IQ U ID S ,

SO D A R E C O V E R Y . W E T

’ M A T E R IA L H A N D L IN G In c lu d in g A G IT A T O R S C A U S T IC IZ - E R S , C L A R IF IE R S , C L A S S ­ I F IE R S , C O N V E Y O R S , D E W A T E R IN G M A C H IN E S R O T A R Y V A C U U M F I L -

Rolanr P ulp Washing i f achine, milk T E R S SA N D . W A S H E R S , R ~(ary 'f'aCu u „ Filler, w ith T a k e Z ff Pitch Pine Trough, Wash Gear and S L U D G E P U M P S , Roller and Repulper.

Scraper K nife. T H IC K E N E R S , e tc .

WALLACH

^{B R O SL T D}

« « T A B E R N A C L E ST • L O N D O N • E - C " l C L E rk e n w e ll M 'íB .B

d ltlo ns of the Factory A c t of 1937.

PREVEN TS D ER M A T IT IS KEEPS H ANDS HEALTHY

K E S T N E R ’S

5, G rosvenor G ardens, W estm inster, London, S.W.

ROZALEX LIMITED. 10 NORFOLX STREET. MANCHESTER

— P O T T E R ’S --- Machinery Guards

$ D E S IG N E D F O R S A F E T Y

P o t t e r ’s guards are installed in works through­

out the country and are distin- guishablebytheir sound construc­

tion, good fitting and m any exclu­

sive features.

f W ill

P H IP P S T R E E T . LONDON. E.C.2 Typhon«* : ßlSToe»foí» 2177 (3

A N D

r i r s t Aid. Outfi ts, etc., compl yi ng w i t h F a c t o r y R e g u l a t i o n s . F a c t o r y T h e r m o m e t e r s , e t c.

Superlative Quality Large Stocks • Prompt Despatch

F R A N C I S W . H A R R I S & Co. Ltd.

B U R SL E M - Stoke-on-Trent 'Phone : S to k e -o n -T re n t 7181.

'G r a m s : Belting, Burslem

FIRST AID SUPPLY CO. 1925

88, NEWINGTON B U TTS , LONDON, S .E .II T e le p h o n e : RELlance 1823

T H E C H E M I C A L A G E

S a f e t y F i r s t

Ma y iS , 19 4 6

S A F E T Y F I R S T

T H E “ O L D B U R Y ” P A T E N T C A R B O Y D I S C H A R G E R

w ill e m p ty and elevate up to 50 feet the contents of any carboy, bottle o r vessel, and com piles w ith all the con-

APPLIED BEFORE W O R K

R O Z A L E X

Ôa y 1 8, 1 946 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E

JLHE egg-shell was evolved many thousands of years ago as an answer to a packaging problem.

Reads o f Liverpool have been in existence b ut three quarters o f a century it is true, yet in that period t h e y too have evolved many hundreds of Containers for particular products.

T h eir engineers and designers are always at your service to provide the most satisfactory Metal Containers for y o u r products. T heir standard

range of Tools is from a gramophone needle tin to a 45-gallon D rum and includes most types of M etal Packages in common uec. Designs will be subm itted for new shapes and types of M etal Containers w ithout obligation, with or without printing.

It will pay you to get into touch with Reads and ask their advice upon current and future packaging problems.

R2 0 4 1-C1

R EA D S L IM IT E D , 21 B R ID G E W A T E R STR EET, LIV ERPO O L. 1 R O Y A L 3223 AND 205 GRAND BUILDINGS, T R A FA LG A R SQ U A RE, LONDON, V/.C.2 W H IT E H A L L

ALSO AT GLASGOW, BELFAST LEICESTER AND CORK 5 7 S l

T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ma y i 8, 19 4 6

Im p eria l

Made in Great Britain

A Monument to Quality

B rillian t filtrates fro m all types o f chem ical liq u id s p ro d u c e d th ro u g h th e M e ta filte r are a m o n u m e n t to th e h ig h -q u a lity filtration w h ic h it en su res. In a d d itio n to chem ical liq u id s, th e M e ta filte r h an d les w ith equal facility a n d success sy n th e tic d ru g s, b io ­ chem ical p ro d u c ts , g elatine, s y ru p s , an d e x tr a c ts ; a n d it w ith stan d s th e actio n o f acids, alkalis, oils, an d o rg an ic liq u id s.

T H E M E T A F I L T R A T I O N C O . L T D ., B E L G R A V E R O A D , H O U N S L O W ,

M I D D L E S E X .

Telephone: Telegram s:

H ounslow 1 1 2 1 /2/3 M etafilter, Hounslow.

Im perial T y p ew r ite r C om p an y L td . L eicester

Ma y iS, 19 4 6 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E V

Y o u c a n d o a ll th e c o m b in a tio n s o f fla n g e s , b e a d s a n d h e m s illu s tr a te d , o n th is o n e s im p le m a c h in e , S ta n d a r d m o d e ls ta k e u p to 1 2 J ', 1 5 1 ' a n d 1 8 ' a n d s p e c ia l m o d e ls c a n b e s u p p l i e d to ta k e a n y w id th . F o r fle x ib ility , h ig h o u tp u t a n d e c o n o m y in o u tlay , o p e r a tio n a n d s p a c e , th is M O O N m a c h in e c a n n o t b e b e a te n .

m

i r a

hi,

m a c n i n e s

W e make a wide range of machines for sheet metal work, metal cap, box and drum making. If you use this type of plant send for our catalogue, it is available on request

M O O N B R O T H E R S L T D . • B e au fo rt Road • B I R K E N H E A D Telephone: B IR K E N H E A D IS27 Telegrams: ‘'M O O N B R O , B IR K E N H E A D "

M akers o f Tin Box and D rum M akin g M achinery

d m 1232

T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ma y j8, 19 4 6

6 OW ^{m O i t M A i O '}

G A S P L A N T C O . L T D .

M A N C H E S T E R 19

T el. N o . : H e a t o n M o o r 2261

Illustration shews M.S. Rubber Lined Tank for Hydrochloric Acid

TANKS. CYLINDRICAL AND RECTANGULAR PUMPS AND FLOW METERS, ETC._____

S HEETS AND S T R I P

Copper Tubes: “D ona” W elding Copper

M a y i o, 19 4 6 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E

S H U T T E R V E N T I L A T I 0 N

f o r i n s t a n t c l e a r a n c e o f

F U M E S A N D S M O K E

from Foundries, Retort Houses, Furnace Buildings, etc., etc.

T h e S h u tters pro v id e w h at is in effect a m oveable r o o f to th e building w hich, by m eans o f steel ■ louvres in th em ­ selves form ing ex tractio n vanes, create ex tractio n d rau g h t. T h e louvres are form ed o n b o th sides o f a centrally o p e rated d u al g ear u n it; each side can be o p erated independently in o rd e r

to facilitate ex tractio n in stro n g w inds.

In very w et w eather, driving snow an d a t n ig h t they c an be closed a n d form co m p lete w eather—tightness

A dequate n atu ral light to the workshops below is available when the shutters a re onen.

BRITISH P A T E N T N O S. 536127, 536942 A N D 536943

H I L L S P A T E N T G L A Z IN G C O M P A N Y L I M I T E D

A L B IO N R O A D , W E S T B R O M W IC H . ’P H O N E : W E S T B R O M W IC H 1025 (6 lines) L o n d o n O ffice : 125 H IG H H O L B O R N , W .G .l. »Phone : H O L b o rn 8005/6

O P E N

W h en fully o p ened, the specially designed louvres provide a n al­

m ost in stan tan eo u s clearance o f fum es, sm oke etc., an d , w hat is equally im p o rtan t, give adequate n a tu ra l lighting to th e w ork­

sh o p s below.

H A L F O P E N

It is often dangerous fo r rain to fall thro u g h the op en ro o f o f a w orkshop. In very light rain Hills Shutters can be p artly closed and still p e rm it a very high percentage o f extraction.

C L O S E D

In driving ra in , sleet, etc., th e Shutters can be closed dow n com pletely and they are^then w eather-tight.

IM .W .54

• O S L f J . 5 -USED TO L IQ U O R S

W O RTH IN G TO N — SI MPSO C H E M I C A L I N D U S T R Y

h a n d l e d

Steam or Power Driven Pumps.

D ry Vacuum Pumps. W e t Vacuum Pumps. A ir Compressors. Steam Jet A ir Ejectors and Surface Condensers for Operating with Vacuum Pans.

Heat Exchangers.

’ W o r t h i n g to n - S l m p s o n ’s N a m e o n a n y .

»■ M a c h in e is a G u a r a n t e e .o f H ig h « Q u a l it y a n d R e lia b le

P e r fo r m a n c e .

A n Installation of twelve electrically-driven H ori­

zontal Split Casing Centrifugal Pumps at an im­

portant Chemical W o r k s in the Midlands. These units handle a variety of Chemical Solutions used in various manufacturing processes.

W O R T H I N G T O N - S I M P S O N L T D . , N E W A R K - O N - T R E N T .

T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ma y iS , 1 9 4 6

N o r th e r n O f f i c e a n d F u e l E n g in e e r : ’P h o n e : H o r s h a m 9 6 5 T. C. FEG A N , C A N N O N F IE L D , H A T HERSAGE , n r , S H E F F I E L D 'G r a m s : E v a p o r a t o r

THE CHEMICAL ENGINEERING & WILTON’S

PATENT FURNACE CO., LTD., HORSHAM, SUSSEX

M A I N T A I N

S T E A M

W IT H

L O W G R A D E F U E L S

IN STAL

F O R C E D D R A U G H T F U R N A C E S

M a y iS, 194 6 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E

T h is p h o t o g r a p h s h o w s t h e s t a r t o f a t e s t i n w h ic h D u n lo p F la m e p ro o f i s s u b j e c t e d to a t e m p e r a t u r e o f 1,000° C . w h i l e u n d e r p r e s s u r e .

A fte r SO m in u te s o f th is c o n c e n t r a t e d h e a t t h e H o s e A s s e m b l y r e m a i n s s e r v i c e a b l e a n d n o l e a k a g e h a s o c c u r r e d .

DUNLOP

FLAMEPROOF

HOSE ASSEMBLY

y o u h a v e a n y p r o b l e m s r e g a r d i n g fle x ib le H o s e A s s e m b lie s w rite to ou r T e c h n ic a l D e p t. (E), F o le sh ill, C o v e n try . D U N L O P R U B B E R C o . L t d . , F O L E S H I L L , C O V E N T R Y

6H/91Z

X T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ma y iS , 19 4 6

B A R B I T O N E

B A R B ¹ T O N E S O L U B L E A L L O B A R B I T O N E

C Y C L O B A R B I T O N E

FINEST QUALITY.

A C T U A L L Y M A N U F A C T U R E D A T B A R N E T

= ■ ■ = b y ■ - —

PIERSO N , M O RRELL & CO., LTD.

(TH E O R IG IN A L BR IT ISH A S P IR IN M A K E R S )

Q U E E N ’S RO AD - B A R N ET - H ERTS

Phone : Barnet 0723 Gram s : Pierson Morrell, Barnet

Every IN D

%

M a y iS , 19 4 6

' T H E C H E S T E R F IE L D

T H E C H E M I C A L A G E

It s ta r te d a s a n o c ta g o n a l s te e l b ille t, 7 ft. h ig h . N o w lo o k at i t ! It is a s te e l tu b u la r h o llo w o f 2 ft, 6 in. b o r e a n d 30 ft. in le n g th . It h a s n o s e a m s , no w e ld s , n o w e a k s p o ts a n y ­ w h e r e . T h e tra n s fo rm a tio n o c c u r r e d in five m a in a n d s im p le o p e r a tio n s . T h e w h ite h o t b ille t w a s p i e r c e d w ith a 2 ft. p u n c h ; a n d th e n p u s h e d th r o u g h a s e r i e s o f d ie s until it w a s th e c o r r e c t le n g th a n d d ia m e te r . * S im p le, d i d w e s a y ? Y es, b u t t h e r e ’s o n ly o n e firm in B ritain w h o c a n c a r r y o u t th is " s i m p l e ” p r o c e s s . D o n 't a s k u s w h o !

* That's not all the story o f course.

The tube m ay then be bored aiui turned w ith giant machine tools to further specified dimensions.

T U B E CO ., LTD., C H E ST E R F IE LD , E N G L A N D A M em ber o f the Tube Investments Group.

c.R.c.5

T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ma y iS, 19 4 6

R IC H A R D S IM O N & SO N S, LTD.

P H O E N IX W O R K S , B A S F O R D ,

N O T T IN G H A M

KESTNER

K E S T N E R ’S

SPRAY DRIERS

P R O D U C E A D R Y P O W D E R E D P R O D U C T F R O M S O L U T I O N S , O R S O L I D S IN S U S P E N S I O N , IN O N E O P E R A T I O N A T L O W O V E R A L L

C O S T

Kestner Patent Spray Driers are in daily use manufacturing :

FINE CHEM ICALS FOOD PRODUCTS TAN EXTRACTS BLOOD PO W DER

SOAPS DETERG EN TS

DYES M ILK

SALTS, ETC.

IF Y O U A R E M A N U F A C T U R I N G A N Y j P O W D E R E D P R O D U C T , I T ' W I L L ^PAY Y O U T O C O N S I D E R a' K E S T N E R P L A N C H E M IC A L E N G IN E E R S ,

5, G R O S V E N O R G A R D E N S , L O N D O N , S.W . I

M U L T I T U B U L A R D R I E R S

R O L L E R FILM D R I E R S

= = = = = = F L A K E R S A N D C O O L E R S

M A N Y S T A N D A R D S IZ E S includ­

ing L A B O R A T O R Y M O D E L S . We have test plants on a commercial

scale always available W e offer accumulated experience of SO years’ specialization.

O U R W O R K S , the largest in the United Kingdom devoted especi­

ally to D R Y IN G M A C H IN E R Y , are laid out and equipped with the latest plant for this particular purpose.

Ma y iS , 1 9 4 6 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E xiii

ATHOLE G. ALLEN (Stockton) LTD.

STO CKTO N -O N -TEES

Telephones :

S T O C K T O N 637S (3 lines)

CO. D U R H A M

N O N M E M B E R S O F T R A D E A S S O C I A T I O N S

ARE PRODUCERS OF

BA RIU M COMPOUNDS

B A R IU M C H L O R ID E

Fully Sold for E xp o rt

B A R Y T E S

Lim ited Supplies O n ly

IRON COMPOUNDS

F E R R IC C H L O R ID E ( P E R C H L O R ID E O F IR O N )

P ro m p t D e live ry H o m e and E xp o rt

F E R R O U S C H L O R ID E

P ro m p t D e live ry H o m e and E xp o rt

TOLUENE N ITRATIO N PRODUCTS

M O N O N IT R O T O L U E N E D I- N IT R O T O L U E N E P A R A N IT R O T O L U E N E

Enquiries Invited for H o m e and Expo rt

O R T H O N IT R O T O L U E N E

x iv T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ma y i 8, 1 9 4 6

E L E C T R I C A R C

& F L A S H B U T T P R O C E S S E S

IR O N & A L L O Y C AST IN G S H O M O G E N E O U S L E A D L I N I N G

Specialists in the m anufacture of Plant fo r the Chem ical and A llie d Trades.

Vessels and Tanks of all descriptions in M ild & Stainless Steel and A lu m in iu m .

'G r a m s Grazebrook, Dudley

D U D L E Y

W O R C S

YORKSHIRE TAR DISTILLERS I?

CLECKHEA.TON .YORKS.

TEL. CLECKH EATO N T E L E G R A M S T O - i

. 7 9 0 ; ( 5 L I N E S ) >117 YOTAR CLECKHEATON J

Ma y i 8, 19 4 6 T HE C H E M I C A L A G E X V

H O M E

A G A I N —

Since 1939 large num­

bers o f our men and w om en h ave been serving their country in the Forces. M any of them are now returning to their homes, anxious to make a place for themselves in the life o f a nation pursuing the arts o f peace.

Constructive help will be needed in solving th e m an y b u sin e ss problems that will con­

front them after long a b se n c e fro m the ordinary affairs o f daily life.

T h e Managers o f the branches o f the Midland Bank have a wealth of experience and know­

ledge in such matters which they will gladly place at the disposal of men and women—

whether customers of the Bank or not— upon their return to civilian life.

M

i d l a n d

B

a n k

L I M I T E D

N E W S O L V E N T T E C H N I Q U E S

work in progress

I n th e v a s t a n d c o n tin u a lly - e x p a n d in g jig -s a w o f s o lv e n t te c h n i q u e d e v e lo p ­ m e n t, w o r k is a lw a y s in p r o g r e s s . M a n u f a c t u r e r a n d u s e r a lik e a r e e x p lo r in g n e w p o s s ib ilitie s . S o m e tim e s w o r k is d o n e w ith a sp e c ific e n d in v ie w , s o m e ­ tim e s to e s ta b lis h g e n e ra l p r in c ip le s . T h e s o lu tio n to a p r o b le m in o n e field m a y lie u n s u s p e c te d in a n e ig h b o u r in g field .

T e c h n ic a l P r o d u c t s L t d . , a s m a n u f a c ­ t u r e r s o f a w id e r a n g e o f “ s t r a ig h t ” a n d s y n th e tic c h e m ic a ls , a r e h a p p ily p la c e d to c o - o r d in a te t h e r e s u lts a c h ie v e d i n all fie ld s o f c h e m ic a l r e s e a r c h a n d to c o n ­ t r i b u t e n e w k n o w le d g e a r is in g f r o m t h e i r o w n r e s e a r c h r e s o u r c e s .

I f y o u h a v e a n y s o lv e n t p r o b le m , t h e r e ­ f o r e , w h e r e a w id e s u r v e y o f t h e w h o le c h e m ic a l fie ld m a y le a d to a s o lu tio n , w e s h a ll b e h a p p y to d is c u s s it w ith y o u . M e a n w h ile , m a y w e r e m i n d y o u of th e f o llo w in g f r o m o u r r a n g e o f s o lv e n ts ?

DIACETONE ALCOHOL ISO PR O PY L ALCOHOL ISO PR O PY L ETHER SECONDARY B U TY L ALCOHOL

TERTIARY BU TYL ALCOHOL a ll o f e x c e p tio n a lly h ig h s ta n d a r d o f c h e m ic a l p u r ity .

T E C H N I C A L P R O D U C T S L T D ST . H EL EN ’S CO URT, GREAT ST. H EL EN ’S,

LO N D O N , E .C .3 t e l e p h o n e : a v e n u e 4321

T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ma y 1 8 , 19 4 6

B A K E L A Q U E

Synthetic Resin Laminated Boards, Tubes, Rods, and

Mouldings

BAKELAQUE

Resins, V a rn ish e s and M o u ld in g P ow d e rs

MICA and MICANITE

In all forms

V u lca n ise d Fibre and L e ath e ro id

V a rn ish e d C lo th , T a p e and T u b in g

P resspah n, Fu lle rb o a rd E b o n ite and all In su la tin g M a te r ia l fo r

E le ctrical E n gin e e rs

ATTWATER I SONS LT?

P R E S T O N

E S T A B L IS H E D 1368

T H E R E IS A B E T T E R W A Y O F R E A C H I N G

T h e d is c r im in a tin g m a n u f a c tu r e r lea v e s n o t h in g t o c h a n c e . H i s p ro c e s s is t h e m o s t e ffic ie n t h e c a n d e v is e a n d is c o n tr o lle d t h r o u g h o u t to e n s u r e t h e u n if o r m ity o f h is fin is h e d p r o d u c t.

I f h e is u s in g c h e m ic a ls f o r te c h n ic a l p u r p o s e s h e in s is ts o n b u y in g f r o m a m a n u f a c tu r e r u p o n w h o s e r e s o u r c e s a n d i n te g r ity h e c a n re ly . T h e r e m u s t b e n o c h a n c e s ta k e n o r h is o w n r e p u ta ti o n w ill i n t h e lo n g r u n b e i n je o p a rd y .

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A m e ric a n i n d u s tr y , r e s e a rc h i n s t i t u ­ tio n s o f a ty p e t h a t w e d o n o t p o ssess in t h is c o u n tr y . W e r e fe r to th e p u b lic i n s t i ­ tu tio n s , s u c h a s th e M ello n I n s t i t u t e , to w h ic h in d u s tr ia lis ts c a n b r in g t h e i r p ro b ­ le m s fo r s o lu tio n , in a p p a r a tu s of a t le a s t p ilo t- p la n t s iz e , o n m o d e r a te fin a n c ia l t e r m s . I t h a s o f te n b e e n s a id t h a t in th is c o u n tr y w o la c k th e m e a n s to c a r r y o u t o rg a n is e d r e s e a r c h o n a p r a c tic a l s c a le , a n d fa m o u s m e n h a v e called a tt e n ti o n to th is n e e d on m a n y o c ca sio n s. A r e c e n t te c h n i ­ c al p a p e r , fo r e x a m p le , in s is te d t h a t “ in a d d itio n to g e n e ra l re s e a rc h fa c ilitie s i t is e s s e n tia l to s e t u p a n o rg a n is a tio n g e n e r­

a lly s im ila r t o t h e M ello n I n s t i t u t e of . A m e ric a w h ic h sh a ll g iv e to in v e n to rs t h e o p p o r tu n ity of tr y in g th e i r id e a s on a la rg e r sc a le th a n is p o s s ib le in th e la b o ra ­ to ry . T h e in v e n to r in

t h i s c o u n tr y is d e p e n ­ d e n t o n a n e x is tin g firm o r p r iv a te fin a n ­ c ie r fo r f a c ilitie s fo r ta k in g h is p ro c ess fro m t h e v e r y s m a ll sc a le to t h e la r g e r s c a le ; t h is h in d e r s d e ­ v e lo p m e n t o n good p ro c e s s e s , a n d in the.

h a n d s o f u n s c ru p u lo u s fin a n c ie rs m a y r e s u lt in n o th in g m o re than, t h e e x p lo ita tio n o f t h e p u b lic . I n a n y e v e n t, i t p u t s th e in v e n to r at.

a d is a d v a n ta g e sin c e h e is a t th e m e rc y of th e firm o r fin a n c ie r w h o g iv es h im t h e

s u p p o rt. T h e r e is n o c o u n tr y in t h e w o rld t h a t d is c o u ra g e s t h e in v e n to r as m u c h as th is c o u n tr y h a s d o n e in th e p a s t. I t is n o t s u g g e s te d t h a t th e p o s itio n of r e s e a rc h w o rk e rs r e g u la rly e m p lo y e d b y firm s is p re ju d ic e d in th is w a y , b u t t h e in d e ­ p e n t re s e a rc h w o rk e r w h o is n o t p re p a re d to w o rk fo r a s a lu ry is g ra v e ly h a n d i­

c a p p e d . I n illu s tr a tio n i t m a y b e re c a lle d t h a t B a e k e la n d , th e in v e n to r of V e lo x p r in tin g p a p e rs a n d of B a k e lite , le f t E n g ­ la n d a n d to o k h is id e a s to A m e ric a b e ­ c a u s e of th e la c k of fa c ilitie s in t h is c o u n ­ t r y fo r t r y in g h is la b o ra to ry p ro c e s s e s o n th e c o m m e rc ia l s c a le .”

T h e r e h a s la te ly c o m e in to o u r p o ss es sio n a n illu s tr a te d p ro s p e c tu s (if t h a t b e th e r i g h t w ord) of a n o th e r s im ila r b o d y , T h e B a tte lle M e m o ria l I n s t i t u t e , C o lu m b u s , O hio. W e do n o t k n o w a n y th in g a t firs t h a n d of th is I n s t i t u t e , b u t w e h a v e c u lle d p e r ta in in fo rm a tio n fro m t h i s docum ent) a n d w e s e t t h a t in f o r ­ m a tio n b efo re o u r re a d e rs s in c e , w h a t ­ e v e r m a y b e t h e s u c ­ c e s s w ith w h ic h th e B a tte lle I n s t i t u t e liv e s u p to i ts e x p re s s e d o b ­ je c tiv e s , i t w o u ld a p ­ p e a r to b e th e s o r t of th in g t h a t w e sh o u ld e n d e a v o u r t o e s ta b lis h in t h i s c o u n tr y . I f n e c e s s a ry . G o v e rn ­ m e n t a id co u ld b e c a lle d i n , th o u g h w e sh o u ld m u c h p r e fe r in d u s try to e s ta b lis h

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544 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ma y iS , 19 4 6 s u c h a b o d y b y p r iv a te e n te r p r is e . A d m it­

te d ly , th e N a tio n a l P h y s ic a l L a b o r a to r y w ill d o w o rk o n se le c te d p ro je c ts in c e r ta in field s o n v e ry s im ila r lin e s . A d m itte d ly , also, th e re s e a rc h a s s o c ia tio n s do s o m e th in g s im ila r fo r th e i r in d iv id u a l i n d u s tr ie s , a n d fo r t h e i r o w n m e m b e rs , b u t in g e n e ra l only^

if th e p ro b le m s se e m to be of su ffic ie n tly w id e in te r e s t. W e c e rta in ly - n e e d i n s ti­

tu te s to w h ic h a n y o n e c a n tu r n fo r a s s is ­ ta n c e w h e th e r b e lo n g in g to a r e s e a rc h a sso ­ c ia tio n o r n o t , a n d w h ic h a r e e q u ip p e d w ith la rg e -sc a le p la n t.

T h e B a tte lle I n s t i t u t e , w e r e a d , w a s e s ta b lis h e d 15 y e a r s ago th ro u g h a b e q u e s t fro m o n e G o rd o n B a tte lle , w h ic h p ro v id e d a s u m of m o n e y fo r th e b u ild in g a n d e n d o w m e n t of th e I n s t i t u t e “ fo r ( h e p u r ­ p o se of e d u c a tio n a n d c r e a tiv e a n d re s e a rc h w o rk a n d fo r m a k in g of d is c o v e rie s a n d in v e n tio n s fo r i n d u s t r y . " T h e fo u n d e r h a d e x te n s iv e i n te r e s t s in c o al, iro n , a n d s te e l. I n n o r m a l t im e s th e I n s t i t u t e s u p ­ p o r ts a p ro g ra m m e o f f u n d a m e n ta l r e s e a rc h fro m its e n d o w m e n t fu n d s in th e v a rio u s field s w h ic h i t s e rv e s . T h e fin d in g s fro m su c h re s e a rc h a re m a d e a v a ila b le fo r th e a d v a n c e m e n t o f s c ie n tific k n o w le d g e.

T h e s e fin d in g s also b e n e fit i n d u s tr ia l s p o n ­ so rs o w in g to th e e x p e rie n c e a n d k n o w ­ le d g e th e r e b y g a in e d b y th e staff. T h e s ta ff n o w n u m b e r s 000 a n d is re a d y a t an y t im e to c o n d u c t re s e a rc h fo r in d u s tr y . T hy I n s t i t u t e p ro v id e s th e p la n t, th e e q u ip ­ m e n t , th e p e rs o n n e l. T h e c o m p a n y o r g ro u p u n d e r w h o se a u s p ic e s th e r e s e a rc h is d o n e , k n o w n a s th e “ s p o n s o r ,” p a y s for th e tim e of th e p e rs o n n e l a ssig n e d to th e e n te r p r is e , a n d th e o u t-o f-p o ck e t c o s ts . I t is e s tim a te d t h a t th e a m o u n t of m o n e y so s p e n t in 1944 w a s $ 2 ,5 0 0 ,0 0 0 . T h e r e ­ s e a rc h p ro je c t is d e fin e d a n d p la n n e d in c o n s u lta tio n b e tw e e n th e I n s t i t u t e an d t h e sp o n s o r. I t is th e n a ssig n e d to o n e of th e o p e r a tin g d iv is io n s , a n d th e s u p e rv is o r o f t h a t d iv is io n is re sp o n s ib le fo r i ts e x e ­ c u tio n . N o t o n ly is th e w o rk re v ie w e d fro m a te c h n ic a l a s p e c t, b u t fh e e co n o m ic a n g le a lso is g iv e n fu ll c o n s id e ra tio n .

A m o n g th e d iv is io n s lis te d a re m in e ra ls ,, fu e ls , m e ta llu r g y ( fe rro u s a n d n o n -fe rro u s ), w e ld in g , c e ra m ic s , e le c tr o c h e m is tr y , c h e m is tr y , p h y s ic s , p ro d u c tio n r e s e a r c h ,, a n d e n g in e e rin g e co n o m ic p ro b le m s . T h e I n s t i t u t e a c ts , fo r e x a m p le , a s “ t h e p r i n ­ c ip a l re s e a rc h la b o ra to ry of B itu m in o u s C oal R e s e a r c h , I n c ., th e re s e a rc h ag en c y o f t h e b itu m in o u s co al i n d u s t r y . ” T h e e le c tro c h e m ic a l d iv is io n “ sp e c ia lis e s in th e s tu d y of c o rro s io n a n d s u rfa c e fin ish

p ro b le m s . . . A n o u ts ta n d in g a c h ie v e ­ m e n t of t h e e le c tro c h e m ic a l re s e a rc h la b o ra to rie s is a p ro c e ss fo r t h e e le c tr o ­ c h e m ic a l p o lis h in g of m e t a ls .” T h e c h e m ic a l d e p a r tm e n t d e a ls w ith b o th c h e m is tr y a n d c h e m ic a l e n g in e e rin g :

“ v ir tu a lly all field s of c h e m is tr y a re s e rv e d , in c lu d in g in o rg a n ic c h e m ic a ls , p la s tic s , p e tr o le u m , c o a l-ta r d is tilla tio n , o rg a n ic s y n th e s is , p a in ts a n d v a r n is h e s , p a p e r c h e m is tr y , food, te x tile s , fu n g ic id e s , p re s e rv a tiv e s , h ig h p r e s s u r e s y n th e s e s , w a s te d is p o s a l, c h e m ic a l tr e a tm e n ts of w o o d , a d h e s iv e s , s y n th e tic r u b b e r , ” a n d so on. I t is e v id e n t fro m th e illu s tr a tio n s t h a t th e e q u ip m e n t c o m p ris e s b o th la b o r a ­ to ry a n d p la n t a t le a s t of s e m i-s c a le s iz e , a n d p e rh a p s in m a n y in s ta n c e s o f fu ll-s c a le siz e . I n p h y s ic s , th e I n s t i t u t e p o ss es se s a n e le c tro n m ic ro sc o p e, in its e lf a r a r e tool in t h is c o u n tr y . A m o n g th e g ro u p s w o rk in g in th is field a r e th o s e c o n d u c tin g re s e a rc h u p o n p ro b le m s of w e a r a n d a b ra s io n , p h y ­ sic al a n d m e c h a n ic a l te s tin g , X -ra y s , th e e le c tro n m ic ro sc o p e , th e e le c tro n d iffra c ­ tio n c a m e r a , e le c tro n ic s , m e ta l f a tig u e , a n d m a n y k in d re d s u b je c ts .

A c e n tr a l o rg a n is a tio n on a m o re m o d e s t sc ale is a ls o in e x is te n c e in F r a n c e . W e a r e r e f e r r in g to th e M a iso n d e l a C h im ie in P a r is , so m e n o te s on w h ic h a r e in c lu d e d o n a la te r p a g e of th is is s u e . I t w ill th e r e b e se e n t h a t T r e n c h i n d u s tr ia lis ts , th ro u g h th e i r S o c ie ty o f C h e m ic a l I n d u s t r y , p la y e d a la rg e p a r t in o r g a n is in g t h i s i n s titu tio n a s a s o rt of in fo rm a tio n a n d d o c u m e n ta ­ tio n c e n tr e fo r th e c h e m ic a l in d u s tr y .

W e a sk in all s e rio u s n e s s w h e th e r th e r e is n o t s o m e th in g h e re t h a t is w ell w o rth y o f b e in g c o p ied in th is c o u n tr y . I f so , w h a t a re w e g o in g to d o a b o u t i t a n d w ho is g o in g to do i t? W e a re a t th e b e g in n in g of th e s c ie n tific a g e. W ith o u t sc ie n c e w e a re lost.. U n le s s w e m a k e th e fu lle s t u se of s c ie n c e w e a re lo s t. It- is th e f u n c tio n of th e te c h n ic a l p re s s to c a l l - a t te n t io n to th e s e th in g s ; b u t i t is u p o n t h e in d u s ­ tr ia lis ts t h a t ' th e o n u s m u s t r e s t o f ta k in g w h a te v e r s te p s a r e n e c e s s a ry to re m o v e th e h a n d ic a p t h a t th is c o u n try h a s in lack - in th e fa c ilitie s fo r larg e -s c a le re s e a rc h th a t a re o p e n to th e in d u s tr ie s of o th e r n a tio n s . S c ie n tific r e s e a rc h a n d p o litic s a re in c o m p a tib le ; b u t w ith th e g o v e rn o rs of th e c o u n tr y in t h e i r p r e s e n t id eo lo g ical m o o d , ju s tif ic a tio n c a n d o u b tle s s b e fo u n d for th e n a tio n a lis a tio n o f a lm o s t a n y th in g . Q u ick a c tio n to e s ta b lis h a s y s te m o f s c ie n ­ tific r e s e a rc h o u ts id e g o v e rn m e n ta l c o n ­ tro l w o u ld th e re fo re se e m to b e in d ic a te d .

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T U N G b y th e im p a c t of in s u lts an d in n u e n d o s fro m G o v e rn m e n t sp o k e s­

m e n , th e e x p o n e n ts of p r iv a te e n te r p r is e h a v e a t la s t m a d e t h e i r r e to r t. I n th e issu e fo r M ay 9 of th e official Jo u rn a l oj ihc N a tio n a l U n io n o j M a n u f a c t u r e r s , th e y c la im t h a t , by re a s o n of i ts a c tio n s an d ' p la n s w h ic h h a v e c r e a te d w id e s p re a d u n ­ c e r t a i n t y , i t is th e G o v e rn m e n t a n d n o t p r iv a te e n te r p r is e w h ic h is o n tr ia l to -d a y . T h e G o v e rn m e n t h a s c e r ta in ly b e e n s h a k ­ in g th e B ig S tic k . T h e C h a n ce llo r b e g a n i t by th r e a te n in g a n e w ta x o n p ro fits in t h e f u t u r e u n le s s p r iv a te e n te r p r is e b e h a v e d its e lf in t h e m e a n tim e . L a t e r , th e A tto rn e y -G e n e ra l u tte r e d th e i n e p t b o a s t t h a t “ w e ” a re n o w t h e . m a s te r s , im p ly ­ in g t h a t i n d u s tr y w o u ld h a v e to to e th e lin e . O n e w o n d e rs , a lo n g w ith t h e N a tio n a l U n io n of M a n u f a c tu r e r s , e x a c tly w h a t t h a t “ w e ” re p re s e n ts . M e a n w h ile , m a n u f a c tu r e r s a re a s k in g fo r a s p e c ifica ­ tio n of th e m is d e m e a n o u rs w h ic h th e y a re su p p o s e d to a v o id . T h e y a re a s k in g , m o re o v e r, fro m w h o m , if n o t fro m p r iv a te e n te r p r is e , w ill c o m e th e n e w id e a s b o th fo r q u a lity a n d fo r v o lu m e of p ro d u c tio n w ith w h ic h th e e s s e n tia l e x p o rt d r iv e is to b e im p le m e n te d . T h e y a re a s k in g w h o , if n o t p r iv a te e n te r p r is e , is to e q u ip th e fa m o u s “ B r i ta i n C a n M a k e I t ” e x h ib itio n w h ic h is to b e h e ld th is a u tu m n . F in a lly , a n d m o s t c o g e n tly , th e y a re a s k in g a b o u t t h e q u a lity , r a te o f s u p p ly , a n d co st of

“ n a tio n a lis e d ” co al, t h e p ric e s of S ta te - s u p p lie d g as a n d e le c tr ic ity , th e c o st a n d a v a ila b ility of G o v e rn m e n t t r a n s p o r t, of S t a te s te e l, a n d of all t h a t is to c o m e .a f te r in th e w a y o f n a tio n a lis e d s e rv ic e s . T h e y c o n te n d , w ith so m e ju s tic e , t h a t w ith all th e s e p ro b le m s u n re s o lv e d i t w ill b e t h e G o v e rn m e n t a n d n o t th e m a n u f a c tu r e r w ho m u s t a c c e p t t h e b la m e if i n d u s tr y is c rip p le d .

M emorandum on Patents

T

^{H E} C h a r te r e d I n s t i t u t e of P a t e n t A g e n ts h a s p u b lis h e d , m o re o r les s s im u lta n e o u s ly w ith t h e S eco n d I n t e r i m B e p o r t of t h e S w an C o m m itte e , a n e la b o r­

a te d o c u m e n t, M e m o r a n d u m o f E v i d e n c e , P a r i I I , w h ic h h a d b e e n s u b m itte d so m e tim e b e fo re to th e S w an C o m m itte e an d h a s b e e n p a r tly in c o rp o ra te d in to th e sa id r e p o rt. M a n y of th e re c o m m e n d a tio n s i n ­

c lu d e d in th e m e m o ra n d u m , h o w e v e r, h a v e n o t b e e n ta k e n o v e r by th e r e p o rt.

I t se e m s a p ity t h a t s u c h a n e x h a u s tiv e d o c u m e n t, c o n ta in in g t h e c o n c e n tr a te d effo rt o f m a n y e x p e r t m in d s in th e p a te n t p ro fe s sio n , sh o u ld h a v e b e e n p u b lis h e d so la te t h a t t h e p u b lic c o n c e rn e d co u ld n o t a v ail th e m s e lv e s of i t in tim e to s u p p o rt o r s u p p le m e n t so m e of th e r e c o m m e n d a ­ tio n s by d ir e c t e v id e n c e to t h e S w a n C o m ­ m itte e . A s a fin al r e p o rt is s till a w a ite d fro m th e S w an C o m m itte e , i t m a y b e t h a t so m e o f t h e re c o m m e n d a tio n s w ill y e t be c o n s id e re d .

Selected Recom m endations

S

O M E of t h e s u g g e s tio n s , p ick e d o u t m o re o r le s s a t ra n d o m fro m a d o c u ­ m e n t c o v e rin g 19 p r in te d fo o lsc ap p a g e s , a rc a s follow s : (1) B rin g in g th e F o r m of G r a n t of L e t t e r s P a t e n t u p to d a te b y o m ittin g so m e o f th e v e n e ra b le h is to ric a l p a s s a g e s w h ic h h a v e b e co m e o b so le te , a n d s ta tin g t h e p a te n t e e ’s r ig h ts m o re c le a rly in s te a d . (2) P a t e n t s fo r t e s tin g m a t e ­ r ia ls — a t p r e s e n t n o t fa llin g w ith in th e t e r m of “ m a n n e r of n e w m a n u f a c tu r e ” o f th e S t a tu t e of M o n o p o lies , 1624— sh o u ld be a d m itte d if a n d w h e n th e y le a d to a n im p ro v e d m a n u f a c tu r in g p ro c ess . (3) T h e tr u e a n d f irs t in v e n to r n e e d n o t b e o n e of t h e a p p lic a n ts (as u n d e r t h e p r e s e n t A c t), p ro v id ed h e c o n s e n ts to th e a p p lic a tio n b e in g m a d e in so m e b o d y e ls e ’s n a m e . T h e n a m e o f th e a c tu a l d e v is e r sh o u ld a lw ay s b e m e n tio n e d in th e s p e c ific a tio n . (4) T h e re q u ire V n en ts fo r th e C o m p le te a n d P r o v i­

s io n a l S p e c ific a tio n s sh o u ld b e m o d e rn is e d , a n d e x a g g e ra te d d e m a n d s fo r p re c is io n of w o rd in g — c o m p a ra b le w ith a d e e d — s o m e ­ tim e s m a d e b y ju d g e s th in k in g in p u re ly leg a l t e r m s , sh o u ld b e b ro u g h t in lin e w ith te c h n ic a l p o s s ib ilitie s , w h ic h l i m i t s u c h a c c u ra c y , p a r tic u la r ly if n e w g ro u n d is b ro k e n . (5) T h e te r m “ e ffe c tiv e p r io rity d a te ” is s u g g e s te d to re p la c e t h e p r e s e n t c o m p lic a te d w o rd in g , in o rd e r to d e fin e , in c n e s in g le t e r m , s u c h o c ca sio n s a s th e filin g d a te of a P ro v is io n a l S p e c ific a tio n , o r of a C o m p le te S p e c ific a tio n n o t p re c e d e d b y a P ro v is io n a l, a n d s im ila r d a te s . ( 6) R e fo rm of th e S e a rc h fo r N o v e lty u n d e r S e c tio n s 7 . a n d 8 o f t h e A c t, p a r tic u la r ly as fa r a s “ p r io r c la im ” (a s d is tin g u is h e d fro m p rio r d isc lo s u re ) is c o n c e rn e d . (71 T h e d a te s o f a c c e p ta n c e a n d o f p u b lic a tio n

546 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ma y 1 8 , 19 4 6 of t h e p r in te d s p e c ific a tio n sh o u ld c o in ­

c id e . ( 8) T h e r ig h ts of jo in t p a te n te e s to b e b e tt e r d e fin e d ; t h e d is g u is e o f lic e n c e s b y o n e p a r tn e r tr a n s f e r r in g h is r ig h ts by b its a n d p ie c e s to m a n y a s s ig n e e s sh o u ld b e p r e v e n te d by a llo w in g e a c h p a r tn e r to a s s ig n h is s h a r e in th e p a te n t to o n e p e rso n (p h y s ic a l o r c o rp o ra te ) o n ly .

I.G.I. Catering

I

N t h is is s u e re fe re n c e is m a d e to t h e e x p a n s io n p ro g ra m m e o n w h ic h I .C .I . p ro p o se e m b a rk in g a t a to ta l c o s t o f m o re t h a n ¿£40,000,000; a n d fro m t h e e m p lo y ­ e e s ’ s ta n d p o in t a t le a s t i t is s ig n if ic a n t t h a t t h e p ro g ra m m e m a k e s p ro v is io n (a m o n g o th e r th in g s ) for w e lfa re a m e n itie s . O f n o l i t t l e im p o r ta n c e a m o n g s u c h a m e n itie s is th e p ro v is io n of a d e q u a te f a c ilitie s fo r w o r k e r s ’ m e a ls a n d in th is c o n n e c tio n th e c o m p a n y h a s a lre a d y e s ta b lis h e d fo r its e lf a n e n v ia b le r e p u ta tio n . I n d e e d , I . C . I . 's c a te r in g o rg a n is a tio n is o n a s c a le c o m m e n ­ s u r a t e w ith th e s iz e of th e firm its e lf. N o fe w e r th a n 150 c a n te e n s w e re b e in g o p e r­

a te d b y th e I .C .I . o rg a n is a tio n fo r its e m p lo y e e s a t o n e tim e d u r in g t h e w a r , to s a y n o th in g of a la rg e n u m b e r of sta ff a n d w o r k e r s ’ h o s te ls , in c lu d in g a fu lly -lic e n s e d h o te l. A t t h e “ p e a k ” p e rio d a b o u t 110,000 p eo p le a d a y w e re b e in g p ro v id e d w i t h m a in m e a ls , s n a c k s , a n d b e v e ra g e s in t h e c o m p a n y ’s o w n c a te r in g e s ta b lis h ­ m e n ts . W h e n d u e re g a rd is h a d to th e n u m b e r of d iffe re n t in d u s tr ie s in c lu d e d in t h e I .C .I . o rg a n is a tio n , w ith c o n s e q u e n t d iffe re n c e s in w o rk in g c o n d itio n s , i t w ill bo a p p re c ia te d t h a t th e c o m p lic a te d b u s i­

n e s s o f fe e d in g so m a n y e m p l o y e e s .” on t h e . job ” w a s n o lig h t ta s k .

An Essential Welfare Service

I

C .I . o b v io u sly re g a rd s c a te r in g a s an

• ess.ential p a r t of i ts w e lfa re s e rv ic e a n d th e r e is n o d o u b t i t h a s c o m e to s ta y . T h e p a r t i t w ill p la y in t h e g r e a tly e x p a n d e d p o s t-w a r a c tiv itie s o f th e c o m p a n y w ill bo fu lly as im p o r ta n t a s in t h e tr e m e n d o u s 'c o n tr ib u tio n m a d e b y th e c o m p a n y a n d i ts a s s o c ia te s to th e w in n in g of t h e v ic to ry . F o r m a n y y e a r s n o w , th e c o m p a n y h a s s u c c e s s fu lly o p e ra te d w o r k e r s ’ c a n te e n s , w ith th e p r im a r y o b je c t of p ro v id in g e m ­ p lo y ee s w ith good m e a ls a t re a s o n a b le p r ic e s , a n d w h ile th e c a n te e n s a r e e x p e c te d to c o v e r c e r ta in d ir e c t e x p e n s e s , i t is r e a l­

ise d t h a t fin a n c ia lly th e y c a n n o t b e se lf- s u p p o r tin g . A s a r e s u lt o f clo se s tu d y of

t h e w h o le p ro b le m , m a n y im p ro v e m e n ts h a v e b e e n m a d e in m o s t of t h e c a n te e n s a n d f u r t h e r im p ro v e m e n ts a re c o n te m ­ p la te d . T h e r e is a sp e c ia l s y s te m o f t r a i n ­ in g fo r th e co o k s e m p lo y e d a n d t h e o rg a n ­ is a tio n is fu lly a liv e to th e n e e d fo r f u r th e r e x p e rt t r a i n i n g fo r a ll g ra d e s of c a n te e n staff. A s ta n d a r d c o s tin g s y s te m , in c o r ­ p o r a tin g a s p e c ia l s to re -k e e p in g s y s te m , is in g e n e ra l u s e th r o u g h o u t I . C . I . c a n te e n s , a n d t h e u s a g e o f t h e v a rio u s i te m s o f food is c a re fu lly a n a ly s e d . E a c h a re a of th e U .K . is lo o k ed a f te r b y re g io n a l c a te r in g a d v is e rs , a n d t h e y a re d ire c tly re s p o n s ib le to I . C . I . ’s c h ie f c a te r in g a d v is e r, M r. W . J . W illm o th , w h o s u p e r ­ v ise s th e w h o le of th e c o m p a n y ’s e x te n s iv e c a te r in g se rv ic e .

Entry into U niversities

T

H A N K S to a n e x p la n a to ry n o te is s u e d o n M o n d a y , t h e s o m e w h a t h a z y s t a t e ­ m e n t m a d e b y t h e M in is te r of L a b o u r l a s t w eek o n t h e c o n d itio n s o f n e w e n tr y in to u n iv e r s itie s h a s n o w b e e n c la rifie d , a n d y o u n g m e n of a g e g ro u p s u p to S e p te m ­ b e r 30, 1928, c a n n o w h a v e s o m e id e a of th e i r im m e d ia te fa te . , F i r s t p r io r ity of e n tr y is j u s tly g iv e n to th o s e re le a s e d fro m (h e F o r c e s in C las s A , a n d to t h e c o r re ­ sp o n d in g g ro u p of m e n e m p lo y e d o n w o rk of n a tio n a l im p o r ta n c e in in d u s tr y . S c h o la rs a n d “ y o u n g m e n o f 'h ig h p r o ­ m is e ” u p to G ro u p 55, n o m in a te d b y th e u n iv e r s itie s fo r re le a s e in C lass B , a r e in th e s a m e c a te g o ry , a s a r e s im ila r y o u n g m e n , id e n tifie d b y t h e u n iv e r s itie s , w h o b y S e p te m b e r 1 t h is y e a r w ill h a v e c o m p le te d th r e e y e a r s ’ w o rk o f n a tio n a l im p o r ta n c e ( m ilita r y o r o th e rw is e ) sin c e t h e y re a c h e d th e ag o of 18. S e c o n d p r io r ity w ill b e g iv e n to s c h o la rs a n d o th e r p ro m is in g s t u ­ d e n ts from , sch o o ls in t h e a g e g ro u p (Octo­

b e r 1 , 1927, t o S e p te m b e r 30, 1928, a n d to c e r ta in m e n in m e d ic a l g ra d e s -3 -a n d 4.

I t is s u g g e s te d t h a t w o m e n sh o u ld b e g iv e n p r e fe re n c e o n th e s a m e b a sis a s m e n , b u t i t is h o p e d t h a t w o m e n w h o a r e n o t in th e f ir s t p r io r ity c la s s , a n d w h o s e a c c e p ta n c e w o u ld m e a n t h e e x c lu s io n o f m e n w h o a r e , w ill b e a d m itte d o n ly if th e y a r e o f e x c e p ­ tio n a l p ro m is e . T h e o n ly re a lly u n h a p p y p o s itio n n o w is. t h a t so m e of t h e c a n d id a te s fro m sc h o o ls, a s in so m e c a s e s i t w ill n o t b e p o ssib le to re a c h a fin al d e c is io n a b o u t th e m u n til a s la t e a s S e p te m b e r 1. in o rd e r t h a t S e rv ic e c a n d id a te s m a y b e g iv e n th e m a x im u m c h a n c e of e n tr y .

Ma y x8, 1946 T H E C H E M IC A L A G E 547

T h e Fuel P osition and Exports

L o rd M cG o w an ’s W a rn in g : I.C .I. E x p a n sio n P la n s

A

W A R N IN G t h a t u n less coal su p p lies im p ro v e, f u r th e r c u ts m ay b e e x p e c te d iu th e e x p o rt of e ss e n tia l c h em ica ls from th is c o u n try , is giv en b y L o rd M cG ow an, c h a irm a n of I .C .I ., L td ., in th e c o u rse o f th e p r in te d s ta te m e n t a cc o m p an y in g th e a n n u a l r e p o r t w h ic h is to b e p re s e n te d a t th e 19th a n n u a l g e n e ra l m e e tin g of th e com ­ p a n y a t W ig m o re H a ll, W ig m o re S tre e t, L o n d o n , W .l , on M ay 23. L o rd M cG ow an also a llu d e s. to th e lik elih o o d of f u r th e r in ­ c rea se s in ' th e p ric e s c h a rg e d fo r th e com ­ p a n y ’s p ro d u c ts , follow ing on th e h ig h e r p rice of fu e l a n d in cre as ed w age ra te s .

O f p a r tic u la r im p o rta n c e is th e a n n o u n c e ­ m e n t b y L o rd M cG o w an o f an e ig h t-y ea r d ev elo p m en t p ro g ram m e b y l . C . I . , in v o lv ­ in g a to ta l c a p ita l e x p e n d itu re of no less th a n £40,000,000.

“ T h e su ccessfu l c o n d u ct of th e ch em i­

cal in d u s try , w h ich n o t on ly m a n u fa c tu re s a la rg e volum e of in te rm e d ia te p ro d u c ts e sse n ­ tia l to o th e r in d u s trie s b u t also e x p o rts a larg e a n d g ro w in g p ro p o rtio n of its to ta l p ro d u c tio n ,” s ta te s L o rd M cG o w an , “ d e ­ p e n d s e n tire ly u p o n th e sa tis fa c to ry so lu tio n of th e co al p r o b le m ; a n d em p h a sis c a n n o t be la id too stro n g ly on th e u rg e n cy o f th is p ro b lem a n d th e n e ed to re v e rs e th e p re se n t tre n d b f d e clin e in th e o u tp u t an d q u a lity o f c o al a n d of in c re a s e in its p ric e . T h e c o n tin u o u s d e te rio ra tio n th ro u g h o u t th e y e ar b ro u g h t m a tte r s to a c ritic a l sta g e . G ra v e s ta te m e n ts h av e a lre a d y b e e n m ad e by th e M in is te r o f F u e l an d P o w e r. C u ts in th e o u tp u t of c e rta in of o u r p ro d u c ts , w h ich re s u lte d in a fa ll of e x p o rts a t th e r a te of a p p ro x im a te ly £2,500,000 p e r a n n u m , w ere im posed in J a n u a r y , 194G. F u r t h e r re d u c ­ tio n s in o u tp u t over a ra n g e of b a sic in d u s ­ t r ia l c h em ica ls m ay follow if coal su p p lies do n o t im p ro v e .”

F u t u r e P r i c e s

R e fe rrin g to th e fu tu re o u tlo o k , L o rd M cG o w an s ta te s : “ T h e b o a rd th ro u g h o u t th e w a r m ad e i t a firm p olicy to k eep all p ric e s a t th e lo w e st p o ssib le lev el an d h av e e n d ea v o u red to s u p p o rt t h a t p olicy by a co n tin u o u s d riv e to re d u c e co sts th ro u g h in ­ c rea se d efficiency an d h ig h e r y ields. M uch o f th e co m p an y ’s e x p e n d itu re on re s e a rc h is d ire c te d to .these ends. T h e co sts of m a n u ­ fa c tu re of m an y of o u r p ro d u c ts h av e i n ­ c re a s e d su b s ta n tia lly ow ing to th e m uch h ig h e r p ric e of fu el a n d in c re a s e d w age ra te s . S in ce 1939 o u r cost p e r to n of coal lia s ris e n by 108 p e r cen t, and o u r b ill fo r coal a n d coke, fo r a slig h tly sm a lle r q u a n ­ tity , w as a p p ro x im a te ly £3,500,000 h ig h e r in 1945 th a n in 1938. A gain, sin ce 1939, r a te s

of w ag es in clu d in g w a r su p p le m e n t h av e in ­ c rea se d slig h tly o v er 50 p e r c en t. T h is in ­ c rea se in clu d es a d v an c es n e g o tia te d a few w eeks ago, w h ich alo n e w ill a d d a p p ro x i­

m ately £ 1,000,000 to o u r a n n u a l w age b ill.

In c re a s e s in th e p ric e s of a n u m b er of p r o ­ d u c ts h a v e th e re fo re b een u n a v o id a b le an d m o re m ay h av e to follow .

T h e E x p o r t P r o b l e m

“ T h e b o a rd re co g n ise th e u r g e n t n a tio n a l n e ed fo r in c re a s e d e x p o rts , in o r d e r to pay fo r th e im p o rts n e ce ssa ry to m a in ta in o u r s ta n d a rd of liv in g ,” L o rd M cG o w an c o n ­ tin u e s. “ T h is calls fo r a g r e a te r volum e of p ro d u c tio n th ro u g h e n h a n c e d . efficiency in th e use of m an -p o w er a n d th e u tm o s t use of p la n t a n d m ac h in ery . T h is p ro b le m will n o t o n ly te s t th o se re sp o n sib le a t a ll lev els fo r m an a g em e n t, b u t w ill also re q u ire th e s ta te sm a n sh ip a n d u n d e rs ta n d in g o f th e le a d e rs o f o u r g r e a t tr a d e u n io n s, th ro u g h th e ir in flu en ce on th e o u tlo o k a n d w o rk of th e ir m em b ers. T h e volum e of w o rk to be done is so h u g e an d w ill e x te n d so f a r in to th e fu tu re as to call fo r th e u n re s tric te d la b o u rs of a ll of us. I th e re fo re w arm ly w elcom e th e a ssu ra n c e s of c o -o p era tio n in in c re a s in g p ro d u c tiv ity re c e n tly giv en by th e G e n e ra l C ouucil of th e T r a d e U nion C on­

g ress. B u t th e w hole field of p ro d u c tio n is o v ersh ad o w ed by a s h o rta g e of co al. F o r t h e ir p a r t, th e b o a rd a r e c o n fid en t t h a t th ey can re ly on everyone w ho w o rk s in th e com ­ p a n y ’s serv ice to ap p ly to th e v ita l ta s k s of peace th e sam e effo rt, e n te rp ris e , en th u sia sm a n d efficiency w ith w hich th e y solved th e p ro b lem s of w a r p ro d u c tio n .

“ D u rin g th e difficult tim e s t h a t .lie ah ead of us, in w hich we h av e to m ak e good th e ra v ag e s of w a r, b u ild u p o u r e x p o rts to fill th e g ap le f t by s h ip p in g losses a n d sales of o v ersea s in v es tm e n ts , a n d re s to re a n d raise o u r p re -w a r s ta n d a r d o f liv in g , B ritis h in ­ d u s try w ill n e ed ev ery b it o f a ssista n c e an d c o -o p era tio n t h a t th e G o v e rn m e n t c a n give : s h o rta g e of m an -p o w ér an d ra w m a te ria ls w ill n e c e ssita te g o v e rn m e n ta l g u id an c e and c o n tro l, b u t th e w id e sp re a d p ro g ram m e of n a tio n a lisa tio n on w h ich th e G o v e rn m en t h a s e m b a rk ed n e ce ssa rily in tro d u c e s an e le m en t of u n c e rta in ty in to a lm o st every d e cisio n w h ic h in d u s tria lis ts h a v e to ta k e . I h o p e t h a t every e ffo rt w ill b e m a d e b y th e G o v e rn m e n t to confine re s tr ic tio n s a n d con­

tr o ls w ith in th e n a rro w e s t p o ssib le lim its an d to rem ove u n c e rta in tie s in o r d e r t h a t in d u s tria lis ts m ay p u rs u e u n d is tu rb e d th e ir v ita l ta s k o f c o n c e n tra tio n on th e jo b of p ro d u c tio n .” -

T h e a n n o u n c e m e n t of . th e c o m p a n y ’s . e x ­