Xref: utzoo comp.misc:6855 misc.misc:7592
Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!zephyr.ens.tek.com!tektronix!gvgpsa!gvgspd!mrk
From: mrk@gvgspd.GVG.TEK.COM (Michael R. Kesti)
Newsgroups: comp.misc,misc.misc
Subject: Re: RETMA definition wanted
Keywords: rails
Message-ID: <831@gvgspd.GVG.TEK.COM>
Date: 18 Aug 89 15:06:29 GMT
References: <447@qtc.UUCP>
Reply-To: mrk@gvgspd.GVG.TEK.COM (Michael R. Kesti)
Organization: The Grass Valley Group, Grass Valley, CA
Lines: 23

In article <447@qtc.UUCP> battan@qtc.UUCP (Jim Battan) writes:
>I hear that "RETMA rails" are the standard 19" rail spacing in all
>computer equipment racks.
>What does the "RETMA" acronym stand for?

I recently needed the nominal dimensions of rack stuff for a personal project
and one of the mechanical designers where I work gave me a photocopy of a
photocopy of a ... of _RETMA Standard SE-102, Panel Mounting Racks, Panels,
and Associated Equipment_.  RETMA is the _Radio-Electronics-Television
Manufacturers Association_.  The standard was first published in February of
1919 (no typo, that's 1919!).  The copy I have indicates it was reprinted in
March of 1931.  I have no idea whether RETMA is still active, but the
document gives an address of 777 14th St, N.W., Washington 5, D.C. (Remember
postal zone numbers?  No zip codes in 1931!)

>Who defined the "standard"?

RETMA!
-- 
============================================================================
Michael Kesti  Grass Valley Group, Inc. | "Like one and one don't make two,
    mrk@gvgspd.GVG.TEK.COM              |  one and one make one."
    !tektronix!gvgpsa!gvgspd!mrk        |         - The Who, Bargain