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Show Finds Factory Noises Which Fatigue Workers; New Device Reduces Sounds An electrical Sherlock Holmes which reaches into a tangle of factory fac-tory noises and singles out the one that frazzles workers' nerves has been perfected by a Cambridge manufacturer, according to Industry Indus-try official publication of the Associated Asso-ciated Industries of Massachusetts. It has long been known that noise in bulk is a deterrant to comfort, even that some types of noise are more fatiguing than others. Hitherto means of measuring no.se have been elaborate and expensive. The new device is compact, easily portable porta-ble and so simple that the operator needs only push a button, turn a knob and read the dial, the publ.ca-tion publ.ca-tion says. Employers generally have realized re-alized that noise has an appreciable effect on typists and clerks and have gone to some pains to sound-S sound-S their offices. Similarly mau- facturers have recognized the dangers dan-gers and losses due to smoke, gases and exposed gears and belts and have taken steps to minimize them. But little has been done about factory noise. Dr. Donald A. Laird cites an instance in-stance where reduction of the noise level in a factory assembly room lowered the rejected parts from 75 per cent to 7 per cent and incrfssed assembly speed by 38 per cent. The new sound level meter consists con-sists of a microphone, a wide-range, high-gain amplifier and a rectifier and indicating meter. The sounis picked up by the microphone are changed into electrical impulses which are magnified many times by the amplifier and then rectified and indicated on the meter. From the reading changes can be made to obviate the sounds which lowr the efficiency of workers. |