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INDUSTRIAL A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
Vol. 17, No. 2
AMERICAN CONTEMPORARIES Alvah Horton Sabin
Committee E (now Committee D-1) formed for the study of the problem. Very recently he was also active in securing approHINGS don’t “just happen” in this world of ours. Hap- priations from Congress for the study of similar problems by the penings are always influenced by the personalities of Forest Products Laboratory. human beings. In the paint and varnish industry there Dr. Sabin was also a pioneer in another direction. He had is no one whose name is more closely attached to its so-called already given much thought to paint and had written upon the subject. When he became connected with the National Lead happenings than is that of Dr. Sabin. It is a long story, and no one can tell it better than our de- Company in 1910, his accumulation of valuable information lightful friendDr. Sabin himself. But that about paint made him a valuable addition to its technical staff, Later he took up new is not permitted here, so it may be best to duties connected with the calling upon leave it untold until you have an opporusers of paint, particularly for the protunity to hear it first hand the next time you meet the Doctor in a hotel lobby a t tection of iron and steel, and helping them one of the numerous technical conventions solve their problems. He became devoted where he is sure to be found. to a belief, which was something more Part of it must be included here, howthan a hobby, that red lead paint was the ever, because it is quite impossible to think most practicable material for the protecof Dr. Sabin without a t the same time tion of iron and steel. There is no one thinking of paint or painting, varnish or more widely known by the engineers of varnishing. T o get the story properly, one the country who are concerned with protection of structural materials. His kindly must begin by imagining the conditions in advice and his ability to command respect this industry as they were a t the time Dr. from all manner of men is the secret of his Sabin was professor of physics and chemsuccess. istry a t Ripon College and professor of His books on paints and varnishes, their chemistry a t the University of Vermont manufacture and use-and he was among during the 70’s and 80’s. One must picthe first to write thoughtfully on these ture the scores of skilled craftsmen who subjects-are to be found in every laborahad learned their art from their fathers, tory and in every library and are acwho in turn had learned it from their cepted everywhere as high types of techfathers through generations, and who nical publication on account of their guarded the secrets they possessed with a erudition and beautiful diction. The sectenacity that knew no limit. One must AlvahlHorton Sabin tion of Chemical Abstracts on paint and picture an entire industry under the sway varnish has been under his care from its of this hereditarv secrecv-a condition which permitted nothing to leak out, but by the same token beginning. His papers and discussions before the various prevented anything leaking in. All this had been going on, ‘national societies always command attention, and on their acas it had perhaps for centuries, while Professor Sabin was in- count he has been the recipient of many honors, the most prized structing the youth of the land and developing his process for of which is the honorary degree of doctor of science, conferred upon him by his own alma mater. the separation of milk sugar from whey. We have mentioned Dr. Sabin’s process for extracting milk This industry then had only one chemist and he was probably working under very much the same conditions as similar workers sugar. This he devised when he was teaching and acting as in other branches of chemical industry and was not allowed to consultant to a milk products company, and it resulted in the creation of an American manufacture of lactose, which had pretalk about the things he was doing. Professor Sabin then conceived the idea that the varnish in- viously been imported. During one period of his career he was dustry could be put upon a scientific basis, and that it would be the first chemist of the State of Vermont, during another he depossible to know just what was true and what untrue, when the voted himself to the development of mechanical milkers. Por all that his fearless stand for the things in which he bestatements of various manufacturers about their varnish products disagreed. He convinced Colonel Huntington, then superinten- lieves has made him many near and dear enemies, his charming dent of Edward Smith & Company in New York, of the feasi- gift as a story-teller has endeared him to hosts of friends One bility of his plan, and Professor Sabin laid out a program for the need but drop in on Dr. Sabin and mention any subject or ask any question t o start a story in a style all his own, which brings to the development of the varnish industry. The difficulties were great, and in carrying out his ideas he made for himself a goodly listener a wealth of information and experience that has been colnumber of enemies, but his honesty of purpose in forcing an lected during a very active lifetime. The remarkable thing industry to be both honest and progressive and his keen critical about Dr. Sabin’s stories is that none of them are the idle tales in judgment of facts carried him through. At present there is which many men delight, but each drives for a definite point, and scarcely an industry that can boast of more careful control than however many sidelights may be thrown on that point before the the varnish industry. In bringing about this change Professor end, it is never lost. G. W. THOMPSON Sabin’s untiring efforts in the direction of progress must be recognized. By the use of ethylene gas, plant physiologists of the UniverIt was largely through his efforts that the American Society sity of Minnesota have demonstrated that celery can be blanched for Testing Materials became interested in protective coat- in from 6 to 10 days in place of several weeks as previously reings for iron and steel, and he was one of the first members of quired.
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