trian Embassy; representative of Austrian manufacturer; Office of Senator Dirksen; correspondence with American Embassy, Vienna. Recommended use of, and obtained, Hiroshima, Nagasaki atomic films for showing at GCMI conference at White Sulphur Springs. Made report of procurement of collapsible tubes for packaging flash burn ointment, contacted civilian defense, health service, and military, etc., on the subject. Worked with metal can and glass container manufacturers on antilitter problem (Keep America Beutiful, Inc.). Cooperated with slack barrel industry in securing the elimination of export cleats from dry milk barrels for the 1954-55 dairy support program, Commodity Credit Corporation, USPA. This lowered the cost of the slack barrel for dry milk approximately 17 cents, and made it more nearly competitive with other containers. Prepared an article on export packaging for early release. Kept closely in touch with developments in connection with Defense Department operated wooden box and pallet shops in competition with private industry. Supplied information whenever it became available to the Defense Department and to the National Wooden Box and the National Wooden Pallet Associations. Provided summaries of general information regarding these shops to BDSA liaison for the Government in business programs. West coast producers of Douglas fir pallets called our attention to the fact that the armed services preferred general purpose wooden pallets constructed from hardwoods. Armed services advised us their laboratories and the Forest Products Laboratory of the United States Department of Agriculture after exhaustive tests developed greater durability and longer use life of general purpose wooden pallets made from hardwoods compared to pallets made from softwoods including Douglas fir. Developing and Selling New Products (booklet) which is a guidebook for manufacturers. Booklet being revised by Area Development Division. We are contributing to chapter titled "Packaging the Product." Booklet is primarily for small business. A summary is being written to acquaint manufacturers on how to reduce cost of loss or damage to goods through proper materials handling. Simplification and Standardization of Pallets related to project initiated by American Standards Association to reduce types and sizes of pallets, to assist business and industry. Cosponsored by Society of Industrial Packaging and Materials Handling Engineers and American Society of Mechanical Engineers. National safe transit program-a voluntary, cooperative industry program for preshipment testing of packaging, sponsored by the Porcelain Enamel Institute. Interim Federal Specifications include reference to the National Safe Transit Committee procedure. We are maintaining contacts with industry and ohter divisions of BDSA in developing a regular Federal specification. Proposed standardization of electrical humidity indicators for moisture control of sealed packages—a task force (Interdepartmental Committee) was established in the Defense Department in February 1953. We are cooperating with the Packaging Branch, Office of Supply and Logistics, Department of Defense, and consulting with industry as necessary and/or when requested. Standardization of the equipment should facilitate their marketing to and use of by the Defense Department. FLEXIBLE PACKAGING Ice cream manufacturers have been encountering difficulties in variations in Federal and State pure food laws governing labeling and marking of food containers. After consulting with the Bureau of Weights and Measures of the National Bureau of Standards, we submitted to these manufacturers copies of Model State Regulation for Marking Food Packages which was adopted May 1953 by the National Conference of Weights and Measures. We also obtained for these ice cream manufacturers the opportunity of meeting with this National Conference in May this year. However, the ice cream manufacturers stated they were not quite ready for this meeting. The door is still open to them, the next move is theirs. In conjunction with Forest Products Division, we presented to paper container and paperboard and container industry a new type of statistics (or statistical method) developed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, entitled "Input-Output," calculated to be of assistance in marketing and long-range planning, and pro viding a finer breakdown of products within an industry. The approximate cost of this method was presented. While industry present expressed great interest, none has as yet stated willingness to incur the finacial obligation or share any expense. At the request of the Bureau of Foreign Commerce we delivered a talk on sales and marketing of paper and paperboard converter products, to a group of German paper manufacturers and converters who were visiting plants throughout the United States. Several bills have been offered in Congress as amendments to the Federal Food, Drug, and Costmetics Act. We have been following these closely in order to keep the food packaging industry informed (through their trade associations) regarding progress and developments of these bills which are still in abeyance. We are providing cellophane manufacturers with the percentage of overall or total combined production sold to each principal end use (34 classifications) without showing any figures and without revealing each manufacturers individual figures. This indicates to the industry, as a whole, whether or not potential markets are being pursued. We assisted a large manufacturer of fiber drums in obtaining Department of Agriculture approval of a new fiber drum for packaging dried milk. We are currently working with the Association of Textile Bag Manufacturers and the military in developing new Federal specifications for bags which will incorporate the salient features of present military specifications and which will provide a set of uniform specifications which can be uniformly used for military, civilian, export, etc., thereby making an appreciable saving in costs for both producer and processer. After bringing bag manufacturers and military together we appear to be on the road to accomplishment. Paper cup manufacturers were disturbed over a report that the military were about to dump on the market a large surplus of paper cups and called for our assistance. We contacted all branches of the military, also the Office of Field Service and disproved this report. We did, however, advise these manufacturers that in the future the OFS is adding to their publication, pertaining to Government proposed procurement and contract awards, a section to be devoted to "Government surplus materials," this for the benefit of industry. Statistical program on flexible packaging films--the Containers and Packaging Division is in active negotiation with the National Flexible Packaging Association to set up a fact-gathering program on flexible packaging films through the Bureau of the Census to be financed by industry under a trust fund agreement. There are no reliable data now available in this area. Bibliography on Basic Information Sources-this has been compiled and is ready for publication. We are now negotiating with SIPMHE to establish a trust fund to cover cost of initial printing. This is a service to the entire packaging industry. Container Outlook-1954-a special article has been prepared for publication in the July 1954 Yearbook issue of Good Packaging magazine. MATERIALS AND SERVICES About January 18, 1954, the Containers and Packaging Division received two applications from the Chemical Corps requesting that we issue directives on the Continental Can Co., for the production and delivery of metal cans which are a component to gas masks. This Division immediately contracted said company by telephone and were informed that they were willing and able to produce and deliver the cans in accordance with the specifications inserted in the contract, that the military had changed the specification without notification and that they could not and would not produce under this situation, as the revised specification called for a much more costly type of can. We then contacted the military giving them the can company's version. Within 24 hours we were informed by the military that the can company was right. To: Fro Sal F JUNE 10, 1954. To: Mr. George W. Auxier, Executive Secretary, Business and Defense Services Administration. From: David F. Snow, Director, Copper Division, BDSA. Subject: Roundup of industry division activities in service to business, January 1 to June 1, 1954. Reference: Memorandum of May 26, 1954. The Copper Division has had two industry advisory committee meetings with the ingot making, custom smelters, scrap, and export segments of the copper industry. These meetings were of special interest to the industry, inasmuch as the export of copper and copper-base alloy scrap was discussed. Data showing the export of this scrap by months and by countries of destination were presented by the Copper Division. Representatives of the scrap dealers, exporters, and the ingotmakers, were invited to present their side of the discussion, and an official of the Bureau of Foreign Commerce answered questions concerning the legal aspects of limiting scrap exports. On May 10, 1954, the Copper Division prepared and presented a statement to the House Ways and Means Committee covering pending legislation on the copper tariff. A copy of this statement is attached. This statement, and the Department of Commerce opinion, was predicated on response from the copper industry received from a letter written to copper producers, together with factual data available in our Division. The Copper Division also submitted drafts of the proposed marking standardization by the Department of Defense to Defense Council of the Ingot Brass and Bronze Industry, Copper and Brass Research Association, National Electrical Manufacturers Association, and the Non-Ferrous Founders' Society, Inc., for opinions covering the various segments of the copper industry. These opinions to date have not all been received but when received will be used to formulate Copper Division recommendations. The Deputy Director of the Copper Division was in attendance at the American Foundrymens' Society convention held in Cleveland May 8, 1954, and gave a brief outline covering the activities and functions of the Business and Defense Services Administration. The Copper Division arranged for Messrs. Honeywell, Boyd, Snow, and Meissner, to talk and appear on a panel of the Copper and Brass Research Association convention held at Hot Springs, Va., May 24-26, 1954. The Copper Division has prepared and distributed to the brass mills and copper wire mills a number of charts, and an analysis showing the trends in shipments and unfilled orders for the industry as reported by the companies to BDSA. A digest of an industry report by the Office of Business Economics was prepared and distributed, showing the recent developments in sales, inventories, and new orders among manufacturers of durable goods, and especially among those segments of the durable goods industries which are customers of the brass mills and copper wire mills, such as electrical machinery and equipment, transportation equipment (including motor vehicles and parts), and fabricated metal products. Several market studies useful to the copper industry have been prepared. These include: Comparison of Usage of Copper and Aluminum for 15 Selected Product Groups, 1947 and 1953; Shipments of Copper-Base Mill and Foundry Products by Industry Groups, 1951-53; Refined Copper Contained in Shipments of Copper-Base Mill and Foundry Products by Industry Group, 1951-53; and an analysis of data from the Housing and Home Finance Agency on Metal Materials Used in Construction of FHA-Financed One Family Detached Dwellings. These studies have been welcomed heartily by the copper industry. Please find attached a list of material prepared and distributed by the Copper Division to industry. MATERIAL PREPARED AND DISTRIBUTED BY THE COPPER DIVISION, BDSA JANUARY 1-JUNE 1, 1954 Copper Statistics-Year 1953, Issue No. 10-SR 909.900 (January 27, 1954) Comparison of Usage of Copper and Aluminum for 15 Selected Products, 1947 and 1953 (February 8, 1954) Facts for Industry: Shipments of Copper-Base Mill and Foundry Products by Industry Group, BDSAF-84-1-3 (February 16, 1954) Chart: Refined Copper: Average Monthly Domestic Production, Net Imports, Net Available Supply, Stated Requirements, and Effective Demand, by Quarters 1952-53 (February 1954) Chart: Shipments and Unfilled Orders-Brass Mills (February 19, 1954) Metal Materials Used in Construction of Dwellings (April 1, 1954) Digest of OBE Industry Report for Durable Goods Industries (April 19, 1954) Covering Letter for Digest of OBE Industry Report, Copper Statistics for 1953, and Synopsis of Procurement (April 26, 1954) Exports of Copper and Copper Base Alloy Scrap (May 3, 1954) Facts for Industry: Refined Copper Contained in Shipments of Copper-Base Mill and Foundry Products, by Industry Group (fourth quarter 1951-second quarter, 1953), BDSAF 84-2-3 (June 1, 1954) Chart: Shipments and Unfilled Orders-Copper Wire Mills (February 19, 1954) JUNE 9, 1954. Memorandum to: Mr. George W. Auxier, Executive Secretary. In accordance with your memorandum of May 26, to all Division direc tors, requesting information on their activity in service to business of special significance since January 1, 1954; the following data is submitted: 1. The Electrical Equipment Division, having received serious complaints from manufacturers of heavy electrical equipment, prepared a study for the Administrator, which has been forwarded to the Office of the Secretary, showing the full implication of continued imports of heavy electrical equipment and recommended that steps be taken for a more rigid interpretation of the Buy American Act. 2 The selenium rectifier stack manufacturers brought to Business and Defense Services Administration the problem of serious shortages in the supply of selenium for rectifiers. They feared that this shortage would be aggravated by the institution of a Government purchasing program for the stockpiling of selenium. The position of the industry was fully explained to all Government officials and as a result action has been taken to prevent the disposal by the military of discarded selenium stack rectifiers. A campaign was instituted at the request of the industry advisory committee to encourage each manufacturer to reclaim as many discarded rectifiers as possible so that the selenium contained therein could be recovered. In addition to this domestic activity, the existence in Germany of a reportedly improved selenium cell production method which conserves selenium and the proper officials to contact was forwarded to all manufacturers of rectifiers. 3. A statistical study of the cast electrical fittings industry was undertaken and has been completed. This study, for the first time, make available to interested members of the industry statistical data not gathered elsewhere. To: Mr. George W. Auxier, Executive Secretary. JUNE 14, 1954. From: Donald S. Parris, Acting Director Electronics Division, BDSA. Subject: Request for roundup of Industry Division activity in service to business, January 1 to June 1, 1954. Reference is made to your memorandum of May 26 on the subject matter. An official of one of the larger companies in the electronics industry (GE) visited us for the purpose of securing help on a detailed analysis of the demand for all types of electronic products. We were able to supply estimates of production by product groups which we were told were very helpful. A firm with substantial financial resources and a very fine electronics engineering research staff recently established a facility in a nontarget area with the purpose of securing contracts for military electronic products. Because of the stretchout of the military programs, this firm was unable to secure enough contracts to fill the facility. Several officials of the company visited us to explain, in detail, the capabilities of the facility. We were able to suggest several commercial products which are not being produced in sufficient quantity to meet the demand and which could be produced in the facility described. (This was the Oerlikon Tool & Arms Corp. of America.) A firm required a more efficient tool for the production of an electronic part needed in large quantities for military applications. We were able to suggest the names of several companies which might develop a suitable tool for the purpose. (R. B. Stranahan Co.) We were visited by a representative of a firm which required information on the requirements for certain chemicals by the electronics industry. We supplied estimates of production of components which use such chemicals. (This was Merck & Co.) We were visited by a representative of a distressed labor area wishing to attract electronics manufacturers to the area. Several suggestions were made which were said to be useful. (Rear Adm. Thos. S. Halloran, executive director of the Greater Lawrence (Mass.) Citizens Committee for Industrial Development, Lawrence, Mass.) We were visited by an official of a firm which supplies specialized parts to the electronics industry. This firm was considering the expenditure of a substantial sum for additional facilities to process parts for electronic components. We were able to provide estimates of the requirements for the electronic component using these parts and advise on alternate methods which might be used to produce the component without requiring these parts. We were informed last week that our advice had saved the firm a substantial loss because upon investigation it was found the facilities would not be needed. (Wilbur B. Driver Co.) Provided the officers of one of the larger electronics producers with estimates of production of groups of electronic products for use in market studies. (Raytheon Manufacturing Co.) Supplied a manufacturer of resistors with estimates of resistor production during the past 3 years. (Erie Resistor Co.) Worked with officers and members of the Radio-Electronics-Television Manufacturers Association on better schedules for the collection of production and export statistics. Gave a firm in another industry data on the electronics industry for use in a market survey. (Ford Motor Co.) To: Geo. W. Auxier, Executive Secretary. JUNE 15, 1954. From: Jacob M. Schaffer, Deputy Director Food Industries Division. Subject: Industry Division activity in service to business, January 1-June 1954. In accordance with your memorandum of May 26, we are listing below a few of the important cases relating to specific jobs that have been done or are being undertaken for industry or individual companies for the period January 1 through June 30, 1954. I. STATISTICS (a) This Division is conducting three industry sponsored and financially supported surveys: (1) Confectionery sales and distribution, 1953; (2) salad dressing, mayonnaise, and related products, 1953; and (3) fruit spread production, 1953. The 1952 published information from these surveys was released from 10 to 12 months after the close of the reported year. This year the publications will appear approximately 6 months after the close of the reported period (1953) and the information published will be of increasing value to the users of these statistics. Not only do the respective food industries look forward to publication of these statistical data to use them as a guide in future operations and in forecasting trends but they are also in demand by the packaging industry. (b) The Cocoa Situation, a report reviewing annual world cocoa production, consumption and prices from 1910-53. This publication was a timely report of importance to the users of cocoa and cocoa products due to the fact that a 67271-55-pt. 1—19 |