Anderson writes from National Technical Labatories to Arnold Beckman, providing him with an update about "acidimeter" production and pre-sales interest while Beckman is away in New York City. He notes that the first advertisement placed for the new pH meter has resulted in approximately 125 inquiries from potential customers and is optimistic about government purchases. The U.G.I. referred to in this letter is most likely the United Gas Improvement Company of Philadelphia.

Arnold Beckman invented his first pH meter in 1934 at the request of a chemist from the California citrus industry, who needed an accurate way to measure the acidity of his product. The resulting instrument kicked off rapid development not only of Beckman Instruments, Inc. but also of the electronic scientific instrument industry.