NOT A DULL REPORT

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 366, 7 March 1932, Page 4

NOT A DULL REPORT

Work of Industrial Research Department. RESULTS OF INVESTIGATIONS. (Special to the “ Star.”) LONDON, January 11. The annual report of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, issued by the British Stationery Office, is not so dull as it sounds. For instance, it announces that: The stripes in striped shirts may cause the material to wear out more quickly. , A mixture of wool, cellulose, leather and rubber produces a new kind of leather from samples of which gloves, boot uppers and coats are being made. A new w’ool bleaching process enables flannel garments ta be laundered twelve times and then look w’hiter than in their original state. A new process for finishing linen damask means longer life and better appearance for tablecloths. A pencil provided with “ leads ” of benzanilide shows whether the iron is too hot for use.

The report also tackles such problems Why do boiled sweets tend to deteriorate during storage? Why does leather draw’ the feet? If the answers are somewhat scientific their value to the industries concerned is none the less great. The department is very proud of its work in connection with the iron and steel industries. It is stated: “ A method has been devised by means of which it is possible to measure the thickness of iron plates by observations made from one side of the plate only, with a degree of accuracy which would appear to be satisfactory for the testing of ships’ plates, boiler plates and tank walls.

“ The devising of a satisfactory method of making this type of measurement under conditions in which no caliper or gauge can be used without drilling the plates should be of considerable practical importance.”