Color scheme important as aid to production

July, I944.]

CURRENT TOPICS.

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permitting its use in aircraft fuels. Previous to that time the research laboratories of the Shell Development Company, under the direction of Dr. E. C. Williams, had worked out a pilot plant process for its production. Its existence was made known by Dr. Williams to the U. S. Army, who ordered moo gallons. The price quoted was $2.4o per gallon. The history of iso-octane and similar fuels as components of aviation gasoline was begun. Today commercial iso-octane is made at reasonable cost in tremendous quantities under trade names such as " a l k y l a t e " and "hydrocodimer" by a variety of processes developed to fit circumstances at individual refineries. R. H. O. Color Scheme Important as Aid to Production.--( Steel, Vol. I I4, No. 24.) The proper relation of color tones in the factory can have much to do with the productive effort of the plant as a whole and with productivity of individual workers, according to color authorities. Pleasing tones in decoration of walls and ceilings and strictly utilitarian application of color for safety precautions around machines and marking of their controls for ease of operation are believed to have good psychological effect on the war effort generally and tangible results in higher output. Use of proper tones in painting an automatic riveting machine, for example, can mean less fatigue on the part of the operator and, therefore, less chance of accident. The understanding of the relationship of light to color can mean a steadier and better operation of nearly all kinds of machines, with less chance for spoiled materials. While pleasing color tones in rest rooms and lunch rooms can mean improved employer-employee relations--tending toward reduction of absenteeism and labor-turnover---the most vilal use of color is that in conjunction with machinery. Faber Birren, color consultant who recently COlnpleted a color coordination scheme for Henry Disston & Sons, Inc., Philadelphia, saw manufacturer, including everything from assembly and personnel departments to an employee sun lamp room, maintains that too much color may be visually and psychologically distracting to people working with materials which are neutral in shade or colorless, since it would handicap their attention to the job and thereby lower efficiency. He says physical and emotional relief is obtained through a "change. of pace" in color throughout the plant. Each specification must be tailor-made m accord with lighting, operation of machine, distance from walls ,rod many other factors which only an expert can properly evahtate. R. H. (). Electric Motor Operates at I2O9OOOR.P.M.--An electric motor operating at the record-breaking speed of I2o,ooo revolutions per minute, or more than seven million revolutions per hour, has been built and tested by General Electric. The motor was developed for application to internal grinding machines used in finish-grinding small holes, many less than I/4 inch in diameter, in vital war parts. Another possibility for its use is in driving small drill chucks for drilling tiny holes in soft metals, using drills 1/32 inch in diameter and less. According to F. W. Baumann and D. H. Ware, General Electric motor engineers, the surface speed required to produce a high grade finish economically