94
INDUSTRIAL
AND ENGINEERING
Vol. 13, No. 5
CHEMISTRY
Fathers and Sons in American Chemistry Knight Life in Chemistry in Three Isotopes e n g i n e e r i n g , in designing and producing the is C H A R L E S M E L types of chemical LEN K N I G H T , who stoneware equipi n t r o d u c e d the ment required b y first course in chemical m a n u rubber chemistry facturers and in t h e U n i t e d other users. States and w h o Whereas earlier may be regarded chemical s t o n e as o n e of t h e w a r e w a s acidf o u n d e r s of t h e proof in so far a s Division of Rubits glaze m e t t h e ber Chemistry of requirements, Mr. the AMERICAN Knight a p p l i e d CHEMICAL SOhis knowledge of CIETY. H e is a chemistry a n d of Vermonter, havclays to t h e proing been born in MAURICE A., JR. CHARLES M . MAURICE A . d u c t i o n of a Dummerston of stoneware that that State Febis acid-proof all the w a y through. T h e search for new markets ruary 1,1848. H e w a s graduated at Tufts College in 1873, took for Knight ware, especially following the 1921 depression, when his master's degree in 1878, and in 1897 Buchtell College b e stowed upon him its honorary doctor of science degree. H e was a n t h e demand for chemical equipment subsided, has led to i t s u s e assistant in the Goddard Seminary at Barre, Vt., became assist- for many kinds of drain lines, fume ducts, and sinks i n large ant in physics a t Tufts College in 1874, was named professor schools, hospitals, and commercial laboratories. of natural science at Buchtell College at Akron in 1875, became MAURICE: A. K N I G H T , J R . , t h e third of our isotopes i n this professor of physical sciences there in 1883, professor of chemis- series, was prepared at Lawrenceville School for Princeton try in 1907, and emeritus professor in 1913. He w a s acting presiUniversity, from which he w a s graduated in t h e Department of dent of this college in 1896 and 1897. Before becoming espeChemistry i n 1931. H e h a s also had a short course in ceramics cially interested in t h e chemistry of rubber, Dr. Knight special- a t t h e University of Illinois and is now associated with h i s ized in lithium in the natural waters of Ohio. father. H e is devoting his efforts t o various activities which will teach him t h e business, h a v i n g acted as cost clerk, installation Our second isotope is M A U R I C E A. K N I G H T , t h e manufacturer of acid-proof chemical stoneware, which bears the Knight name. engineer, a n d advertising manager a s well a s taking part i n H e finds t h e work Trained i n Buchtell Academy and College, where h e specialized i n development and selling for t h e company. chemistry and did independent work on Ohio clays, Mr. Knight extremely interesting, because of t h e ever-changing a n d new corrosion problems being m e t by chemical stoneware a s it i s worked summers and the first year after college in the / . J . Weeks Pottery. H e then began his own manufacturing busi- made today. All three of these isotopes are members of t h e AMERICAN ness, which has been devoted exclusively t o acid-proof chemical CHEMICAL SOCIETY. stoneware. H e gained wide knowledge of practical chemical T H E FIRST ISO-
TOPE in this series
RUZICKA
VISITING
PROFESSOR
AT CHICAGO
THE UNIVERSITY OP CHICAGO announces that L. Ruzicka of
the Technische Hochschule. Zurich, Switzerland, will be a visiting professor in the Department of Chemistry during the summer quarter, beginning June 15. Professor Ruzicka is well known for his skill in the determination of the structure and synthesis of very complex organic substances, and particularly for his work in alicyclic and heterocyclic compounds containing many rings, the terpenes, various types of odoriferous substances, vitamins, and hormones. Recently he succeeded in synthesizing the male sex hormone, the structure of which had not previously been determined. Professor Ruzicka will give two series of lectures. One series, at 3:30 Wednesdays and Thursdays, will be entitled "Special Topics in the Chemistry of Alicyclic Compounds and the Terpenes," and will include many membered ring compounds, including heterocyclic ones, the terpenes, and related compounds such as santonin, sapogenins, etc. The other series will be given Tuesday evenings at 7:00 o'clock on "Selected Topics of Biochemistry," and will include pyrethrums, odoriferous principles and odor, carotinoids, sterols, bile acids, cardiac poisons, vitamins, the various sex hormones, etc. This course will be open to persons not registered in the university on payment of a fee. PERSONNEL
CHANGES AT P E N N
STATE
FRANK C. WHTTMORE, Dean of the School of Chemistry and
Physics of The Pennsylvania State College, announces the following changes in the work of the school: B
J. H. SIMONS, secretary of Section C of the American Associa-
tion for the Advancement of Science, has been appointed associate professor of physical chemistry. Dr. Simons will continue his researches on a variety of problems in physical and inorganic chemistry which he has been pursuing for some time at State College. He will also take care of certain of the advanced instruction in physical chemistry which has been given by M. R. Fenske and J. G. Aston, thus freeing them for additional work in their own specialties of physical chemical studies of petroleum refining and physical organic chemistry, respectively.
P. L». CARNAHAN will replace W. B . M C C L U E R , in charge of t h e
Petroleum Refining Laboratory supported b y the Pennsylvania Grade Crude Oil Association a s part of D r . Fenske's petroleum refining research unit. M r . McCluer has joined the technical staff of the Kendall Refining C o . AWARDS TO EMPIXHTEES FOR SUGGESTIONS A KEENER INTEREST in learning to do their jobs a better way
netted employees of the General Electric Co. a total of $29,218 during 1934. The annual suggestion report of the company reveals that 11,438 suggestions were made by employees during the past year and that 3736 of these were adopted. Nearly $475,000 has been given to various employees for accepted suggestions under the award system in effect at all works of the company since 1926. The largest single award ever made was $1200, while the average recompense for adopted ideas is about $10. C I V I L SERVICE EXAMINATIONS
FOR CHEMISTS
THE UNITED STATES CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION has announced
open competitive examinations for chemists. Applications for the positions of chemist, and senior, associate, and assistant chemists must be on file with the U. S. Civil Service Commission at Washington, D. C , not later than April 8, 1935. The entrance salaries range from $2600 to $4600 a year, less a 3.5 per cent retirement deduction. In each grade, separate lists of eligibles will be established in accordance with the specialized qualifications shown by applicants. A number of existing vacancies i n the Food and Drug Administration, Department of Agriculture, in all grades will be filled from these examinations, as well as a vacancy in the grade of assistant chemist in the Dental Alloy Laboratory, National Bureau of Standards, Department of Commerce. Appropriate education and experience are required. Full information may be obtained from the secretary of the United States Civil Service Board of Examiners at the post office or customhouse in any city which has a post office of the first or the second class, or from, the United States Civil Service Commission, Washington, D. C.
