HOT-WIRE GLASS-TUBING CUTTER THE Anyone Can Make Quick Clean Cuts with this Hot-Wire Tubing Cutter ANALYST'S COLUMN L.T. HALLETT, Science Editor
T A M E S K. IRVING, director of public in-
*' formation for the Scientific Apparatus Makers Association, Chicago, has written a booklet about quality control and research for those who may feel that they cannot afford their own laboratory to control and improve their product by scientific methods. We found the booklet interesting and we condense it here. You may find it informative because you have never questioned the importance of research and quality control. Volume buyers on the American scene are constantly increasing their demands upon the manufacturer for goods that are produced according to specifications. . . . T h e increased competition for the consumer's dollar is making it practically imperative that even the smallest processor or manufacturer take cognizance of the growing technology around him. . . . Actually, what is laboratory quality control? What is research? Perhaps more than anything else, it is a state of mind that guides your thinking as a modern business executive. I t cannot be expected to work miracles for you or make you or your product a success overnight. It is not the answer to all of your problems. I t is a profound management and marketing tool, if used wisely, to augment and supplement the experience you have already gained through the years by constantly attempting to produce a less expensive and better quality product for the ultimate consumer. Scientific laboratory quality control assures the intelligent user of the following: 1. Control over raw materials through the setting of specifications. 2. Control over and improvement of production quality. 3. Constant development and improvement of formulas, and methods resulting in cost savings. 4. Control of the finished product. 5. Increased order and better housekeeping in your plant. 6. Improved customer acceptance of your product through greater confidence in a uniformly high quality piece of merchandise. Research, on the other hand, slowly evolves from the "service" aspect of the above virtues of quality control. The particular "know-how" of your technical personnel and the "tools" already on hand for laboratory control of your product can easily be adapted to research—time and personnel permitting. But, the fact remains that the wise introduction to research in your operation per se should slowly and maturely evolve from the intelligent administration of a sound and worth-while laboratory service program in your plant—scientific quality control. VOLUME
2 7 , N O . 1, J A N U A R Y
Glass tubing, bottles, or jars up to 3 inches in diameter can be cut neatly and quickly with this cutter. Soft glass, Pyrex-braud glass, or other hard-glass tubes can be cut with equal ease. The article is first encircled with a scratch made by a cutter wheel conveniently mounted on the side of the transformer, the scratch is heated by contact with the hot wire, and then cooled quickly by applying water or by blowing on it. No other equipment is required.
The cutting wire is supported on two insulated posts and is heated by curent from a 12-volt transformer serving as the base. No. 24 (B & S gauge) nichrome wire is used and is easily replaced. Three extra wires are included. By means of an adjustment on the transformer, the ct rrent can be controlled to give the optinmum heat for whatever type of glass may be used. An instruction plate is mounted near this control. The unit operates on 115 volts, 50 or 60 cycle A.C. Over-all dimensions are 0x4'/2x9 inches high.
Each, $27.50
No. 5 2 1 0 .
W . M. WELCH SCIENTIFIC COMPANY DIVISION OF W . M . WELCH MANUFACTURING C O M P A N Y
ESTABLISHED 1 51 5 Sedgwick Street.
Dept. A - 1
1880 Chicago 1 0 , Illinois, U. S. A .
Manufacturers of Scientific Instruments and Laboratory Apparatus For further information, circle number 15 A-1 on Readers' Service Card, page 43 A
600 grams
1000 grams
HIGH CAPACITY . . . FINE TOLERANCE . . . SINGLE-PAN
ANALYTICAL BALANCES The w e l l known s t a n d a r d m o d e l o f the METTLER a n a l y t i cal b a l a n c e has a c a p a c i t y o f 2 0 0 grams with an accuracy of ± 0 . 1 mg. Two new models representing the soundness of METTLER design a n d p r o v e n excellence o f METTLER manufacture a r e now a v a i l a b l e f o r d e l i v e r y f r o m stock. They h a v e c a p a c i Write
ties of 6 0 0 grams and 1,000 grams respectively, and incorporate the basic features of the METTLER analytical balance: single-pan design, beam with constant load, weights handled by dials and recorded on a counter. The optical scale reads easily to 0.1 mg by means of a vernier. Accuracy is ± 0 . 1 mg.
us for further details of construction,
for prices and list of
dealers.
METTLER I N S T R U M E N T CORP. HIGHTSTOWN N.J. For further Information, circle number 15 A-2 on Readers' Service Card, page 43 A
1955
15 A
Save breakage dollars with this
ANALYST'S COLUMN Research is a step above quality control. I t begins where quality control stops. I t is keyed to improving the nature of the raw material, t h e improvement of existing materials t h a t already have passed rigorous tests and specifications. Research answers the questions of what your prod uct will look like and behave like 10, 15, and perhaps 20 years from now—many times it tells you whether you'll be pro ducing the product at all 20 years from now. I t is not necessarily concerned with day to day plant operations. I t is business insurance tuned to finding you in business many years from today producing a high quality and favorably priced product. R e search is an investment in the future. And, how much you can afford to invest in this type of program is answered by the same reasoning and logic that may govern your thinking about any form of good insurance. How much does laboratory quality control costf Is it expensive? Can we—a small business—afford it? These and many other questions in a similar vein are probably prominent in your thinking at this very moment. Astronomical figures cited by some of the larger corporations and various government statistics pertain ing to laboratory operation are sometimes more confusing than helpful to the man "just starting o u t " in the use of scientific control in his particular operation. Would it surprise you to learn that a very fine quality control laboratory could be established in your plant for less than $5000—assuming a small amount of floor space could be made available? This amount of money is based on an initial expenditure of perhaps $3500 for basic in struments and apparatus with approxi mately $1500 allotted for laboratory equipment (benches, hoods for carrying off noxious fumes, and cabinets—furniture). Experience with establishing labora tories has shown that your overhead in terms of laboratory materials—replace able glassware, chemical reagents, etc.— will average closely from $700 to $1200 per year for each technologist working in the laboratory. Your major investment will be in terms of personnel. Yet, "since the most important equip ment in a laboratory is in the head of the man running it," the best available talent usually proves to be the least expensive in terms of getting the most out of your new laboratory installation. . . . Perhaps the first step in allaying all fears of "being checked upon by a labora tory" is not to check upon your own opera tion at all in the laboratory's first few months of operation. Certainly, a check of all incoming raw materials will keep your chemist busy and is the logical beginning step of quality control in the first place. The discussion leader in this first meeting might do well to call attention to the fact that the entire idea of keeping a closer check on quality is keyed to increasing sales, lowering costs and, in the last analysis, "guaranteeing jobs—many times with higher pay." The entire theme of this first meeting is pointed toward eliminating the "new" aspect of quality control. Everyone at tending the meeting has, at one time or another, been called upon to describe or tell something about the company's prod ucts. Laboratory control is j ust another— more exact—form of measurement. Smell, color, size, and general over-all appear ance of the product are common knowledge among your people. This entire concept is nothing more than to express these very descriptions in a more universal language— t h a t of the scientist and technologist.
V O L U M E 27, NO. 1, J A N U A R Y
Polyethylene Laboratory Ware
6125T—BOTTLES, Dropping. N e o p r e n e bulb does not contact bottle contents. Pipette revers i b l e to act as spout.
6028T—BOTTLES, Aspirator. Single-piece, with l e a k p r o o f , t r o u b l e p r o o f cock and VA" needlet y p e v a l v e . Unlike glass, does not affect pH o f distilled w a t e r .
Size, oi.
2 gal 26.60, 5 gal 3 4 . 0 0 each Prices o f 6 ' / j - and 1 3 - g a l . sizes upon request.
Price each
1
2
.55
.60
4
8
.70
.80
1 7 1 2 0 T — J A R S , Pipette. Resiliency reduces p i pette d a m a g e . Lightweight, easy to handle even when wet. Size A, 5 " χ 8 "
9 . 0 0 each
14150T —FUNNELS, wi th reinforced rim. Dia., inches
V/i
2Vi
2'Λ
4V4
.24
.42
.72
1.08
Size B, 6'/z" χ 9 "
10.50 each
Price each
Size C, 5 " χ 1 8 " Size D, 6 / 2 " χ 1 8 "
1 1 . 5 0 each 13.25 each
Per doz.
2 1 0 0 5 T — P A I L WITH COVER. Lightweight, rein f o r c e d construction with tight-fitting cover. Handle a t t a c h e d to outside of p a i l . M - q u a r t size 3.79 each
6'Λ
8'/z
1.80
2.88
5>A 1.50
2 . 4 0 4 . 2 0 7 . 2 0 1 0 . 8 0 15.00 1 8 . 0 0 2 8 . 8 0
2070T—SYPHON. bottle.
To
prime
merely
squeeze 10.00
Standard and heavy w a l l beakers, n a r r o w m o u t h bottles w i t h polyethylene screw caps, graduated cylinders, w a s h i n g bottles, c e n t r i f u g e t u b e s , t u b i n g , w i d e m o u t h jars, a n d p i p e t t e jar r a c k s a l s o a v a i l a b l e . C o m p l e t e b r o c h u r e a n d list o f c o m m o n r e a g e n t s a n d h o w they affect p o l y e t h y l e n e at 7 0 ° F a n d 1 4 0 ° F are y o u r s f o r t h e a s k i n g . P r o m p t d e l i v e r y f r o m y o u r n e a r e s t WILL officewarehouse listed below.
Will
CORPORATION and s u b s i d i a r i e s
Specialists
in
Scientific
Supply
ROCHESTER 3, N. Y. · ATLANTA 1, GA. · NEW YORK 12, N.Y. · BALTIMORE 24, MD. · BUFFALO S, N.Y. For further information, circle number 17 A on Readers' Service Card, page 43 A
1955
17 A
