Blueprints mounted on straw-board may be laid flat in drawers, or be stored on edge, in a case, as shown in Fig. 183. On the shelf beneath each compartment is marked the letter and name of the machine.

Indexing, filing, issuing, and recovering drawings, tracings, and blueprints is undoubtedly best handled by the card system. As each machine is designated by a letter, the first card, pink in color, will bear on its tab the letter of the machine. As the parts of the machine are divided into groups of related parts, the first card of the group will bear on its tab the name of the group, usually taken from its most important part. For instance, in an engine lathe the groups will be the bed, headstock, tailstock, etc. One of the group index cards is shown in Fig. 184, and a machine index card in Fig. 185. The arrangement of these cards and of the others in the different groups is shown in Fig. 186. The group index cards are white. By this arrangement it is very easy to find any particular card wanted. The cards relating to one machine may be divided from those of another by a loose wooden partition a quarter of an inch thick if desired. It is considered by some draftsmen as a convenience rather than a necessity.

Drawer for Drawings, Tracings or Blue Prints.

Fig. 181. Drawer for Drawings, Tracings or Blue Prints.

Index Cards for Drawer. Strawboard.

Fig. 182. Index Cards for Drawer. Strawboard.

Case for Storing Mounted Blue Prints.

Fig. 183. Case for Storing Mounted Blue Prints.

When blue or brown prints are wanted the chief will give the blue printer an order card of the form shown in Fig. 187. If for blueprints he will use a blue card, and for brown prints a brown card. If for brown print negatives he will add the word "negatives" to the title line on the card. This card, properly dated, will be turned in to the chief with the prints when they are completed.

When blueprints are to be mounted they are issued by the chief, and when completed a card will be made for each of them, whether duplicates or not, like that shown in Fig. 188, which is light blue. These cards will be arranged the same as those for drawings and tracings, with tabs for the groups of parts. The cards separating those of different machines will be red, and of the form shown in Fig. 189.

Group Index Card, size, 3 x 5 in.

Fig. 184. Group Index Card, size, 3 x 5 in. Color, White.

When blueprints arc issued the entry will be made on the cards showing the date of issue and to what department they went. When they are returned the date will be stamped in the proper space. When the card is filled up a new one takes its place. The' chief draftsman, receiving a copy of all orders for work sent into the shops, will make his arrangements for blueprints in ample time to meet requirements. Drawings and tracings are not supposed to be sent into the shops, and the making of temporary sketches of any part in the effort to hurry the work along should be discouraged, as mistakes and misunderstandings are liable to occur, while by always adhering to the regular system we shall insure the prompt fixing of responsibility for errors, and the smooth running of the routine affairs of the department.

Machine Index Card, size, 3 x 5 in. Color, Pink.

Fig. 185. Machine Index Card, size, 3 x 5 in. Color, Pink.

Fig. 186. Locating Index Cards in the Drawer.

Order for Prints. Cards, 3 × 5 in. Color, Light Blue lor Blue Prints; Brown for Brown Prints.

Fig. 187. Order for Prints. Cards, 3 × 5 in. Color, Light Blue lor Blue Prints; Brown for Brown Prints.

Blue Print Record Card, sizes, 3×5in. Color, Light Blue.

Fig. 188. Blue Print Record Card, sizes, 3×5in. Color, Light Blue.

In fact the effort to find "short cuts" in transacting the business of the establishment, while in a certain sense commendable, should only be taken up when it is amply demonstrated that such a course can be safely followed. It is too often the case that a slight saving in one direction may result in a waste of time in another. It will be well to consider the work of the Drafting Room from rather a conservative standpoint in these respects, as a slight error here is liable to lead to much trouble all the way through the shops. Hence the work here should be done with deliberate care and thoroughness to insure the success, not only of this department, but of those which follow it in the regular routine of manufacturing.

Blue Print Index Card, size, 3 x 5 in. Color, Red.

Fig. 189. Blue Print Index Card, size, 3 x 5 in. Color, Red.