B+W photo of bicycle petal load test as per B.M.A. 6 at United States Testing Co. facility, Hoboken, N.d., ca. 1979-1990.
Entry/Object ID
2013.042.0014
Description
Black-and-white photo of bicycle petal 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.
3-1/4" x 4" wide print; documentation photograph(?) taken by staff of the Photographic Department. Reverse is blank except for processor's inkstamp batch number: 54. (This suggests that it is more of a candid snapshot rather than formal documentation.)
Donor Bill Willard (a long-time employee of the company) provided primary description of scene.
The staff member is wearing a lab coat that appear to have had the round logo of U.S. Testing removed and is just a faint outline. Another photo taken in the same scene has a different staff member wearing a Nationwide Consumer Testing Institute (one of the names used by U.S. Testing - see notes) lab coat..
A test fixture is attached to the petal for it to be run repeatedly as part of the test. 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 2013.042.0013 for another photo of what appears to be this same item undergoing another test.
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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
3 in
Width
4 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.
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Original or Copy: Original
Status: OK
Status By: dw
Status Date: 2013-06-27
