The view from 1952.

Fifty years ago this month I would have still been wearing diapers--at least some of the time. Of course, I was oblivious to the pulp and paper industry then, as were most of you who are reading this. Here is a short recap of what was happening:

On the world scene, the 1952 summer Olympic games opened in Helsinki, Finland. Finland also paid the last of its war reparations in 1952. Elizabeth had just become Queen of England, the French were caught up in an Indochina war, and negotiations were dragging along to end the Korean conflict. In the United States, the Democrats and Republicans met in Chicago, Illinois, nominating Adlai E. Stevenson and Dwight D. Eisenhower as their respective candidates for President. Dan Akroyd and Robin Williams were born in July 1952 and Elvis was on summer vacation from high school. Charlotte's Web and The Old Man and the Sea were among the books published in 1952.

In the world of science and technology, Jonas Salk was testing the polio vaccine during the summer of 1952 and the B-52 prototype was being flight-tested. Transistors debuted commercially in hearing aids. "Silly Putty" became a registered trademark, the first bar code was patented, the first artificial heart was used, and the hydrogen bomb was invented. The American Tree Farm System was established in 1952, also.

You can piece together a snapshot of the pulp and paper industry as it was 50 years ago by looking through the July 1952 Tappi magazine (Vol. 35, No. 7). In statistics reported on page 103A of that issue, we find that U.S. per capita consumption of paper and paperboard for 1951 was 338 lb., based on a U.S. population of just under 154.4 million.

TAPPI membership had reached 5200 by June 15, 1952, the highest to date. Richard P. Hamilton, a graduating student (now retired from Champion International) was one of nearly 50 new members listed on page 76A of the issue. The TAPPI Data Sheet for digester inspection reports appeared on p. 136A of the issue. That was followed by a report on the Fielden Drimeter, an instrument to measure moisture content of paper, by Johannes A. Van Den Akker (later to be named the 1968 TAPPI Gold Medalist) and K. W. Hardacker.

One of the first reports on the manufacture of paper from glass fibers appeared on p. 289 of the issue. Several reports in the issue focus on coating and starch for paper coating. Other reports in the issue discussed methods to check wood and chip quality (p. 294), wheat straw pulp bleaching (p. 301), evaluation of paper products for food packaging (p. 306), and several other topics.

On page 119A of the issue, Vance P. Edwardes gave his views on opportunities in the paper industry, including the following:

* "Is there any reason why trees cannot be made to grow faster even in cold climates?"

* "It is in the operation of the digesters, with respect to pulp yield and gas recovery, that the possibilities for large savings exist."

* "Continuous pulping has been the dream of inventors for years but until recently no satisfactory equipment has been designed."

* "Never underestimate the practical operator who has had little formal education but who has spent years in the industry."

A lot can change in half a century, and has. Some topics, however, are as much a concern today as they were 50 years ago. Looking back to reports published decades ago can be more than entertaining and far from a waste of time. It provides a foundation for current activities and concerns. It provides alternative perspectives, clues, and tools for tackling problems in the mill and in the lab. It also gives us an appreciation and respect for the hard work and ingenuity that has brought us to our current level of pulp and paper manufacturing.

DONALD G. MEADOWS Senior Editor;

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