B+W photo of bicycle load test as per B.M.A. 6 at United States Testing Co. facility, Hoboken, N.d., ca. 1979-1990.

Photograph

Hoboken Historical Museum

U.S. Testing (Nationwide Consumer Testing Institute): bicycle load test

Name/Title

B+W photo of bicycle load test as per B.M.A. 6 at United States Testing Co. facility, Hoboken, N.d., ca. 1979-1990.

Entry/Object ID

2013.042.0013

Description

Black-and-white photo of bicycle load test as per B.M.A. 6 at United States Testing Co. facility (as Nationwide Consumer Testing Institute), 1415 Park Ave., Hoboken. No date, circa 1979-1990. 8" x 10" high print; documentation photograph taken by staff of the Photographic Department, but not so marked. Reverse is blank. Donor Bill Willard (a long-time employee of the company) provided primary description of scene. The staff member wearing a lab coat with embroider lettering on back, Nationwide Consumer Testing Institute (one of the names used by U.S. Testing - see notes), is performing a test on the mounted bicycle. A load is being place on the the seat. The B.M.A. 6 (better known as BMA 6 or BMA/6) is a specification code adopted in 1979 by the Bicycle Manufacturers Association (BMA) of America in regards to Bicycle Safety and Bicycle Standards promulgated by Consumer Products Safety Commission regulations adopted in 1978. The bike being tested is a single speed with a "Grand Sport" decal on the down tube, possibly made by Raleigh. See photo 2013.042.0014 for another photo of what appears to be this same item undergoing another test. --- Engineering Business & Commerce Sciences Interiors

Acquisition

Accession

2013.042

Source or Donor

Willard, Bill

Acquisition Method

Gift

Credit Line

Gift of Bill Willard in tribute to United States Testing Co., Hoboken.

Made/Created

Artist

n/a

Date made

1979 - 1990

Place

Location

Hoboken

Notes

Date: 1979-1990

Dimensions

Height

8 in

Width

10 in

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

General Notes

Note

Notes: United States Testing Co., Inc., 1415 Park Avenue, Hoboken. No longer in Hoboken. Building was erected in 1918. (Initially occupied by B.F. Goodrich Co.) U.S. Testing signed lease Feb. 1, 1926 for building and grounds; company left Hoboken ca. 2000, for Fairfield, N.J., and building was converted to a parking garage; demolished winter 2013. U.S. Testing was founded 1880 and located in New York City until it moved to Hoboken which became its new headquarters with several branches in other American cities. It became a subsidiary of SGS (Société Générale de Surveillance, a Geneva based company founded in 1878) in 1963 (SGS U.S. Testing Company Inc. filed as a Foreign for Profit Corporation on Wednesday, October 16, 1963 in the state of New Jersey.) In May 1996, the name was changed to SGS U.S. Testing Company, Inc. Subsidiaries of U.S. Testing that were located at the Hoboken address: Nationwide Consumer Testing Institute (established circa 1963.) Research and Testing Co., Inc. Qualitest Inc. ==== Original or Copy: Original Status: OK Status By: dw Status Date: 2013-06-27