THE PORTABLE LABORATORY
6 3
tain uniformity, and in a place free from upsetting in
trusions. It was also desirable to have a secure place in
w hich the necessary apparatus could be set up and stored.
Consequently, since it was found impractical to ask em
ployees to come to a central laboratory, which would
fulfill these conditions, it was decided to bring the lab
oratory to them. For this purpose the portable labora-
t°ry W as devised.
This laboratory is a room six feet square. It is built
light beaver board, set in a light wood frame. Each
w all of the room is a unit in itself. When the room is
Se t up, the walls are held together by means of hooks
a nd by a transverse brace over the top of two of the
Wa lls. One wall is used as the door. By means of a
double hinging device it is possible to fold this door back
u Pon the wall to which it is fastened. When the labora-
tory j s collapsed, it consists simply of four walls stacked
a gamst each other. In this compact form it is a very
s %ht task to carry the entire outfit from one shop to
Mother. It can be set up or collapsed in just about
jhree minutes. Its light and simple construction make
11 Ver y easy to shift and to manipulate.
fhe exterior of the room is painted a dark, unobtrusive
r own. Thus it escapes being conspicuous in the shop
^here it is set up. The interior is painted white, in order
^ make the most of the daylight when it is available. An
e ectr ic drop light which can be adjusted to various posi-
tlQ ns in the room is part of the equipment. The table
^h'ch is used is an integral part of the construction of
. le room. It consists of a white enameled board, eighteen
ln ches wide, hinged to one wall and supported by three
Ringing brackets. At present it is being planned to re-
P a ce this table with a more substantial one. The light