Selected Publications on Dimensional Metrology - 20-Degree Celsius Paper

20 °C—A Short History of the Standard Reference Temperature for Industrial Dimensional Measurements, Doiron, Theodore D. Dr., Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 112 (1), 23 p. (January-February 2007).

Abstract: One of the basic principles of dimensional metrology is that a part dimension changes with temperature because of thermal expansion. Since 1931 industrial lengths have been defined as the size at 20 °C. This paper discusses the variety of standard temperatures that were in use before that data, the efforts of C.E. Johansson to meet these variations, and the effort by the National Bureau of Standards to bring the United States to the eventual world standard.

Reference [4], Letter, Guillaume (BIPM) to SWS, 4 p. (21 October 1909).

Summary: Letter from Dr. C. W. Guillaume, Director of the Bureau International des Poids et Mésures (BIPM) in Paris, France, to Dr. S. W. Stratton, first Director of the Bureau of Standards, inquiry about standards issues related to work at the Bureau of Standards.

Reference [5], Letter, Stratton to Guillaume, 4 p. (13 November 1909).

Summary: Letter from Dr. S. W. Stratton, first Director of the Bureau of Standards, to Dr. C. W. Guillaume, Director of the Bureau International des Poids et Mésures (BIPM) in Paris, France, response to an inquiry about standards issues related to work at the Bureau of Standards.

Reference [7], Letter, E. B. Rosa to Glazebrook, 2 p. (3 June 1915).

Summary: Letter from Dr. Edward B. Rosa, answering for Dr. S. W. Stratton, first Director of the Bureau of Standards, to Mr. R. T. Glazebrook of the National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, Middlesex, England, response about standards issues related to work by Mr. J. E. Sears, Jr., Deputy Warden of Standards in Great Britain.

Reference [9], Letter, Stratton to Dr. Glazebrook (NPL), 4 p. (16 October 1916).

Summary: Letter from Dr. S. W. Stratton, first Director of the Bureau of Standards, to Mr. R. T. Glazebrook of the National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, Middlesex, England, response about standards issues related to work by Mr. J. E. Sears, Jr., Deputy Warden of Standards in Great Britain.

Reference [10], Letter, Agnew to F. P. Cox, Manager of the West Lynn plant of General Electric, 3 p. (11 January 1917).

Summary: Letter from P. G. Agnew, Associate Physicist serving on a Standards Committee of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), to Mr. F. P. Cox, Manager of the West Lynn plant of General Electric, response to ASME discussing use of 20 °C, 25 °C, and 62 °C in different fields at the Bureau of Standards.

Reference [11], Fisher to Agnew, 1 p. (18 June 1920).

Summary: Letter from Louis A. Fischer, Chief of the Division of Weights and Measures, Bureau of Standards, to Dr. P. G. Agnew, Secretary of the American Engineering Standards Committee, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), summary response to use of 20 °C.

Reference [12], Letter, Gurley to Bureau of Standards, 1 p. (21 July 1922).

Summary: Letter from C. I. Day, General Manager of W. & L. E. Gurley Company, to Bureau of Standards.

Reference [14], Letter, Bearce to Brown & Sharpe, 1 p. (26 April 1922).

Summary: Letter from Henry Bearce, Bureau of Standards, to Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Company, Providence, RI.

Reference [15], Minutes of National Research Council Meeting of 1919-03-18, 2 p. (18 March 1919).

Summary: Minutes of National Research Council Meeting of March 18, 1919.

Reference [16], U.S. Proposals in English with Markups, 6 p. (8 August 1927).

Summary: Proposals submitted by the U.S. National Bureau of Standards to the 7th meeting of the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) concerning the definition and relation of units and standards of length.

Appendix [1], Second Letter, C. E. Johansson to Dr. Burgess, 10 p. (25 October 1928).

Summary: Second letter from C. E. Johansson to Dr. George K. Burgess, Director of the Bureau of Standards, on the international agreement on the standard temperature for intercomparison of industrial standards of length.

Appendix [2], Second Letter, C. E. Johansson to Dr. Burgess (Black-and-White), 10 p. (25 October 1928).

Summary: Second letter from C. E. Johansson to Dr. George K. Burgess, Director of the Bureau of Standards, on the international agreement on the standard temperature for intercomparison of industrial standards of length.

Appendix [3], Burgess First Call to Industry, 12 p. (13 April 1928).

Summary: Twelve letters from Dr. George K. Burgess, Director of the Bureau of Standards, first call to industry.