History... Blast from the Past.

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Author Message Loretta Sheridan Senior Member Username: leshrdn Post Number: 13 Registered: 11-2021 Posted on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 - 02:59 pm:    I have found a copy of a "Production Systems for Architects & Engineers, Inc." MASTERSPEC TOC from 1974. It is an interested view into the wayback machine... The Section numbers are 3 to 4 digits: Site Prep: 2A0, for example. Soil treatment for termites is 2U1; Landscape work is 2V0. Glass and Glazing is 8A0. 10A0 is Toilet Partitions and Accessories, 10C1 is Cubicle Curtains. Church pews are in Division 11, 11L5, not in Division 12. Access floors are in Division 10, 10P1, not in Division 09. It also states that "A separate TOC for Divisions 15 and 16 is being developed, and will include related sections for Division 2 (Site Work Utilities.)" I know from Wikipedia that: 1963: CSI introduces MasterFormat data as part of CSI Format for Construction Specifications 1966: CSC produced The Building Construction Index with similar data. 1972: CSI and CSC merge their systems and publish as Uniform Construction Index. 1978: First published under the name MasterFormat So, I am guessing that at least prior to 1972, and possibly up to 1978, the three/four digit sections were the standard. (I googled ""Production Systems for Architects & Engineers, Inc." and found that they filed the original trademark application for MASTERSPEC in 1969. I also found an short article about the "new low-cost automated master specification system" in the 1970 issue of "Indiana Architect." and an ad in 1972 New Jersey "Architecture": "the profession's recognized standard – reliable, streamlines production procedures, reduces errors and omissions, flexible master content, avoids repetitious work, comprehensive.") Interesting.... Margaret G. Chewning FCSI CCS Senior Member Username: presbspec Post Number: 351 Registered: 01-2003 Posted on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 - 03:12 pm:    Interesting! The only academic training I had in specifications were two weeks worth in community college back in 1974. We were taught the 4 digit version of MF. Rest were SOP on the job converting NavFac specs (the worst) into 3 part section format and CSI's MasterFormat numbering. Thank you Hans Meir FCSI CCS. ken hercenberg Senior Member Username: khercenberg Post Number: 1446 Registered: 12-2006 Posted on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 - 04:16 pm:    From what I recall, several CSI Chapters created versions in the 60's and early 70's. I don't recall the date of the original "Baltimore Format" created by a crew that I believe included Tom (Paul) Heineman, Dick Weatherby, Paul Simonsen, and others. See https://af9c50be-6a09-408f-85ff-753d3f5efac2.filesusr.com/ugd/518aa6_f3e986b1cbc44a6eb0252b17590cff42.pdf for a copy of MP-2A, 1970 16-Division, 5-digit Sections available on the Baltimore CSI website under Felt Tips from February 1973 - https://www.csibaltimore.org/publications Loretta Sheridan Senior Member Username: leshrdn Post Number: 14 Registered: 11-2021 Posted on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 - 05:52 pm:    Ken -- thanks for sharing that! I will see about scanning the document I was looking at and sharing it. Here is the link to the Indiana Architect, June-July 1970. The Masterspec blurb is on page 21: https://usmodernist.org/AIAIN/AIAIN-1970-06-07.pdf ken hercenberg Senior Member Username: khercenberg Post Number: 1447 Registered: 12-2006 Posted on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 - 06:27 pm:    Cool. As you noted the article is about MASTERSPEC from PSAE - Production Systems for Architects and Engineers, Inc., predating AIA's ownership. It is based on the 16-Division format. Funny that the 1974 TOC you found used 4-digit alpha-numeric Section numbering considering the MP-2A from 1970 already had the 5-digit numeric-only system. As I recall GSA had 5-digit numeric guide specs available in the Government Printing Office in downtown Washington, DC as early as 1977 when I started writing specs. My boss was used to the 4-digit alpha-numeric system (I still have a copy of a project of his somewhere). I used to have to go to GPO periodically with boxes and hit the rotating magazine-type racks. There were dozens of racks but they had guide specs for all 16 Divisions. No "Division 00" back then; we used the FAR's as our front end for GSA projects. I had to type the specs by hand using carbon paper so we could keep a copy. Once accepted by the client the specs were sent off to the printers. Not a cheap process. Making edits usually required retyping the entire spec on my Royal manual typewriter. I was so happy when we bought an IBM Selectric! In 1979 I discovered the AIA front end documents when I switched over to commercial design. We had our spec master on Wang floppy disks and two dedicated word processors who were the only ones allowed to touch those machines. I red-marked hard copy and they edited. It was kind of nice having someone proofreading and not having to type. Paul Sweet (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 - 06:53 pm:    Offices I worked in during the 1970s & 1980s used 2 or 3 digit sections - division number & section letter. These were generally medium or broadscope sections for smaller projects. We seldom got beyond M or N. J. Peter Jordan Senior Member Username: jpjordan Post Number: 1177 Registered: 05-2004 Posted on Thursday, April 14, 2022 - 11:10 am:    Thank you so much for sharing. I started as a spec writer in 1978 working for Media Five Limited, a multi-disciplinary design firm in Honolulu. While I was there, we did quite a bit of work with various military-related agencies. We had a subscription to MASTERSPEC and paid to have the hard copy scanned onto 8-inch diskettes for our Wang word processing system. The scanned files were not terribly useful (spaces instead of tabs and carriage returns at the end of each line). I wrote some macro routines that cleaned up the files. I typed in the NAVFAC guide specs that I had to use, and I particularly remember the one on built-up roofing that had paragraphs that ran for almost a page. I did learn a lot typing those specs, but it was a pain. After MasterFormat 1883 came out, I wrote an introduction to a local product guide as president of the local CSI chapter. There was quite a bit that wasn't exactly right, but I stand by my observation that Masterformat had been close to universally adopted and signaled that CSI had been successful in a part of its original mission. Wish the current edition of MasterFormat was as successful. J. Peter Jordan, FCSI, AIA, CCS, LEED AP, SCIP Russ Hinkle, AIA, CDT, LEED BD+C Senior Member Username: rhinkle Post Number: 152 Registered: 02-2006 Posted on Thursday, April 14, 2022 - 01:20 pm:    When I was in high school, my dad would use old specs, scissors and tape along with his red pencil. Then give it the the receptionist to type. After school I would run the mimograph to make copies, then is was the first zerox machine they had. The also had a box with slots for each page and we collated by hand. 1978-1981. Then off to college I went. Russ Hinkle John Bunzick Senior Member Username: bunzick Post Number: 1868 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Thursday, April 14, 2022 - 04:00 pm:    Russ, This is the way I produced specs in 1985. The firm I worked for had just gotten a PC, but it was sort of for the department secretary (remember them?). I say sort of because she didn't really use it. Anyway, we had a typing pool, and they did all the specs, and anything else needing typing. When I used the PC to write my first report (a existing conditions roofing report), my boss could not figure out why I was doing it and not Sheila. He didn't get that me writing it out longhand and then marking up her typed copy was slower than me using a word processor directly. I was already a reasonably fast touch typist then. I prevailed, though. Sounds like 1950 in retrospect, not 1985. Dan Helphrey Senior Member Username: dbhelphrey Post Number: 88 Registered: 12-2018 Posted on Thursday, April 14, 2022 - 05:31 pm:    The first office I worked in in the mid-90s was still working that way, except the typist was using WordPerfect instead of a typewriter. Back when "cut & paste" actually meant using scissors and glue stick or tape... (I'm pretty sure I'm also the last generation that actually drafted with a pencil. Who else remembers using plastic leads on mylar?) Dan Helphrey Senior Member Username: dbhelphrey Post Number: 89 Registered: 12-2018 Posted on Thursday, April 14, 2022 - 05:33 pm:    Somewhere in my rather random collection of weird architectural memorabilia I have a photocopy of an old book of construction specifications from, IIRC, either the late 19th C or very early 20th C - I'll see if I can find it and post it here. J. Peter Jordan Senior Member Username: jpjordan Post Number: 1178 Registered: 05-2004 Posted on Thursday, April 14, 2022 - 07:59 pm:    From the time I started writing specs, I did my own editing on a computer. A couple of firms strongly suggested that a better use of my time was to markup copy for an admin to edit. This was never the case. I nearly always knew the software better than they did and it was way more efficient for me to do my own edits. J. Peter Jordan, FCSI, AIA, CCS, LEED AP, SCIP James Sandoz, AIA, CSI, CCS Senior Member Username: jsandoz Post Number: 346 Registered: 06-2005 Posted on Friday, April 15, 2022 - 09:50 am:    Several years ago I bought a book on eBay titled "Specification Writing" by David B. Emerson. It was published by the International Textbook Company of Scranton, Pennsylvania. It shows a copyright date of 1924 and is in immaculate condition. I wish there was an easy way to show it to the group. IIRC, the asking price on eBay must have been pretty reasonable or I would not have purchased the book. It is unlike anything previously mentioned but there is a line in the text about "brevity and completeness" of specifications. I keep the book in a fireproof box along with important papers like estate documents and ticket stubs from memorable sporting events and concerts. Some of the latter I really don't remember all that well. :-) Dan Helphrey Senior Member Username: dbhelphrey Post Number: 90 Registered: 12-2018 Posted on Monday, April 18, 2022 - 03:40 pm:    James - That may be the one I have a photocopy of...now I really need to search for it. T.J. Simons, CSI, CCS Senior Member Username: tsimons Post Number: 35 Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Monday, April 18, 2022 - 05:57 pm:    The first firm I wrote specs for thought it was "inefficient" for me to use a computer, so I went through a lot of red pens and printer paper. However, I came in one day to find out my assistant had been laid off, so I adapted to the computer fairly quickly. (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 - 10:10 am:    Dan, here are images of the cover and title page of "Specification Writing." The book measures 7-1/2 by 5 inches. The mosaic tile on the title page is acting as a paper weight. The spine has not been broken. James Sandoz, AIA, CSI, CCS Senior Member Username: jsandoz Post Number: 348 Registered: 06-2005 Posted on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 - 03:36 pm:    Sorry, I didn't know the images would come in so huge! Can anyone tell me how to avoid this in the future? mkalin@kalinassociates.com (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 - 04:30 pm:    And then there was the American Specification Institute who published guide specs in the early 1920's and divided the country into regions. Their motto was 'clear, correct and concise specs'!! Likely some of their junior members started CSI in 1948. Anyone want to borrow a copy? Melissa J Aguiar Senior Member Username: melissajaguiar Post Number: 15 Registered: 09-2015 Posted on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 - 04:50 pm:    I would! I have the "By Hammer and Hand All Things Stand", Audels Carpenters and Builders Guide #2, A Practical Illustrated Trade Assistant, Modern Construction, For Carpenters - Joiners, Builders - Mechanics and All Wood Workers, Explaining In Practical, Concise Language, and By Well Done Illustrations, Diagrams Charts, Graphs and Pictures, Principles Advances, Short Cuts-Based On Modern Practice - Including Instructions On How To Figure and Calculate Various Jobs by Frank D. Graham - Chief and Thomas J. Emery - Associate, Copyrighted 1923, 1939 and Reprinted in 1942. Betty Hays gave it to me before she passed on. It was a time that you could have the entire project manual printed pocket-sized to fit in your back pocket so you could take it with you to the project site! I love our history! Ellis C. Whitby, PE, CSI, CDT, AIA, LEED Senior Member Username: ecwhitby Post Number: 543 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 - 07:12 am:    Dan; Using "plastic leads on mylar" nothing. My 1st summer job, working for my Dad's firm) was drafting for a highway project with PennDOT standards: ink on waxed linen. T.J. Simons, CSI, CCS Senior Member Username: tsimons Post Number: 36 Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Thursday, April 21, 2022 - 02:37 pm:    Dan; I hated using the plastic leads on mylar; they always seemed overly brittle. I preferred to use ink for most of the linework, and the plastic leads more for poche, etc. One thing that did work pretty well was to use a black Prismacolor sharpened to a chisel point for lettering. I suspect as a group, we are a vast repository of arcane and obsolete skills.... John Bunzick Senior Member Username: bunzick Post Number: 1871 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Thursday, April 21, 2022 - 03:04 pm:    I personally never drafted (only specs and CA), but I remember....Letraset and Leroy. ken hercenberg Senior Member Username: khercenberg Post Number: 1456 Registered: 12-2006 Posted on Thursday, April 21, 2022 - 03:36 pm:    I got my apprenticeship because of my ability to draft (thanks mechanical drawing class in high school!). A few years into my first job I found out during CA how useful a good spec is and focused on that part of the CDs, especially since it was reasonably easy (by comparison) to find people with drafting skills. Back then many drafters knew more about putting together a workable assembly than the designers did. When I had to find a new job, no one believed a 24 year old could possibly be a spec writer. I wasn't old enough in their eyes and had to prove my abilities via a trial project. Got the job though! T.J. Simons, CSI, CCS Senior Member Username: tsimons Post Number: 37 Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Thursday, April 21, 2022 - 07:07 pm:    The first office I worked in had a tall file cabinet full of Letraset press-on letters; we thought it was a huge advancement when the Kroy type machines came out. Ken-Interesting comment about drafters and their knowledge of assemblies. I was chatting about this with a colleague a while ago, and we came to the realization that part of the reason for that might be because during the hand drafting and early AutoCAD days, in order to generate a lot of the details and sections you needed, you had to actually research (usually in the Sweet's Catalog) the products and systems you were going to use in order to draft a lot of it accurately. Much different than just grabbing a BIM object without really understanding all of the product options and attributes. James Sandoz, AIA, CSI, CCS Senior Member Username: jsandoz Post Number: 349 Registered: 06-2005 Posted on Friday, April 22, 2022 - 10:17 am:    Mr. Simons, I believe you nailed it regarding assemblies. At the last office where I worked which had a Kroy machine I was allowed to purchase my own cartridges and print labels for my personal use. Needless to say, I went crazy. My work shop looked like the front page of the New York Times. My young bride just rolled her eyes when I made labels for all the different cannisters in the pantry. Hey, when you have four types of flour, every grain known to humanity, etc. it is good to know which is which. She could tell, I couldn't. Dan Helphrey Senior Member Username: dbhelphrey Post Number: 91 Registered: 12-2018 Posted on Monday, April 25, 2022 - 03:21 pm:    So, this past weekend I had a crew of 3 professional organizers come help me clear out my garage and make my house look like an adult lives there. Along the way, many of my old architecture & drafting paraphernalia came out of boxes for the first time in ages. The organizers (all seemed to be in their 20s) would try to guess what things were before asking me - apparently an electric eraser was the funniest thing they'd ever seen, but they thought a Leroy lettering set was kind of cool. They were also amazed that one person could own so many pens... Chris Grimm, CSI, CCS, SCIP Senior Member Username: chris_grimm_ccs_scip Post Number: 558 Registered: 02-2014 Posted on Monday, May 02, 2022 - 03:28 pm:    Interesting, looks like it has always been project meetings back to 1970. I don't know where conferences came from and why we're now switching back. Dan Helphrey Senior Member Username: dbhelphrey Post Number: 93 Registered: 12-2018 Posted on Monday, May 02, 2022 - 07:15 pm:    I found the one I remembered having a plain printer paper copy of - it turns out the whole book is available online. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Specifications/ZSxAAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover Dan Helphrey Senior Member Username: dbhelphrey Post Number: 94 Registered: 12-2018 Posted on Monday, May 02, 2022 - 07:26 pm:    1896 Phil Kabza Senior Member Username: phil_kabza Post Number: 706 Registered: 12-2002 Posted on Thursday, May 05, 2022 - 05:56 pm:    Phil Kabza FCSI CCS AIA SpecGuy Specifications Consultants www.SpecGuy.com phil@specguy.com Lynn Javoroski FCSI CCS LEED® AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 2277 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Thursday, May 05, 2022 - 06:43 pm:    Is that the first specification, Phil? (Genesis 6) James Sandoz, AIA, CSI, CCS Senior Member Username: jsandoz Post Number: 352 Registered: 06-2005 Posted on Friday, May 06, 2022 - 09:08 am:    Perhaps it is from the Hammurabic Code, ca. 1755-1750 BCE. It does address construction if not specifications. Law 229: If a builder builds a house for someone, and does not construct it properly, and the house which he built falls in and kills its owner, then that builder shall be put to death. Apparently, Hammurabi was not big on litigation. ken hercenberg Senior Member Username: khercenberg Post Number: 1464 Registered: 12-2006 Posted on Friday, May 06, 2022 - 10:36 am:    I was told that Genesis 6:14 to 6:16 was the first specification. Definitely not a client you want to upset. James, I'll bet Hammurabi had a hard time finding builders after that first lawsuit. James Sandoz, AIA, CSI, CCS Senior Member Username: jsandoz Post Number: 353 Registered: 06-2005 Posted on Monday, May 09, 2022 - 09:15 am:    Ken what lawsuit? It was also the first kangaroo court. Speaking of kangaroo court (this is a true story): My future lawyer daughter (now a vet tech but I'm sure she will get her degree one day and become an animal rights attorney) was playing in her room one day when I happened to walk by the door. She was about five years old and had her dolls and stuffed animals lined up on her bed with two of them off to the side. As I passed I heard her say "How does the criminal plead?" That's when I realized I was raising a true Texas judge! I had to run to the other end of the house so she wouldn't hear me cracking up laughing and possibly hurt her feelings. She is a lot more "judicious" now as an adult but, if I was a defense attorney, I certainly would strike her as a juror in an animal cruelty case; especially one involving dogs or even kangaroos.