Vintage noise-control information

Maybe you don’t have a immediate need for it, but the web offers historical references for acoustical applications. You can find some of it in the public domain at the Internet Archive. Some of the documents are 40-80 years old. Here are a few examples.

1938-1939 noise control catalogs

Take a look at this 1939 product catalog from Johns-Manville, the makers of insulation and roofing materials. Although the product names are different, their functions are the same. And here we see some early acoustic ceiling panels — ubiquitous in the 1960s and 1970s, and still in many buildings today.

And here’s a 1938 catalog from CertainTeed, makers of fiberglass insulation and also ceilings, drywall, and other products. Back in the 1930s, they also had an insulation product made from sugar cane!

1960s guide to sound insulation

This guide from 1964 described the STC and construction guidelines for doors, walls, and floors.

1970s study on airport noise

Airport noise is always a concern for nearby communities. This study was done in the 1970s on the feasibility of soundproofing buildings (like schools and hospitals) near airports. At least one of the airports in the study doesn’t exist anymore (Stapleton, in Denver). The study took note of the existing structures and the impact of noise on the building occupants, then outlined ideas for retrofitting and the projected costs, in 1970s dollars.

1970s guide on “quieting”

This 1976 guide included sections on troubleshooting, how to select a “quiet” place to live or reduce noise in a room or a car (one example: “drive slower”),

These vintage guides will give you a glimpse of the noise solutions of previous decades, as well as an appreciation for today’s typography, graphic design, and better sound-control products.

Noise-control manuals from the time machine
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