"Ms" on a German engineering drawing

September 5, 2007 11:04 AM

What does "Ms" mean as a material designation on a German engineering drawing?
posted by Mapes to technology (8 comments total)

Here are some possibilities. It might help if you could provide some context, or ideally an image of the drawing.
posted by languagehat at 11:27 AM on September 5, 2007

Uh, what kind of engineering drawing?
posted by aramaic at 11:34 AM on September 5, 2007

the only MS I am able to recall off the top of my head is Motorschiff - motor vessel. I doubt that's what you mean but if you can provide an example document, I'll gladly look into it for a sec.
posted by krautland at 11:55 AM on September 5, 2007

Sorry, it's the actual material: accompanying drawings are specified as "Al" and "Stahl." This one says "Mat.: Ms schwarz."
posted by Mapes at 12:02 PM on September 5, 2007

'Messing' is brass in German.
posted by pj_rivera at 12:16 PM on September 5, 2007

This?
posted by LionIndex at 12:17 PM on September 5, 2007

Well, err, "black brass" is a term I've seen applied to brass that's had an oxide applied to it.

...what's it a drawing of? A building? A gun? An engine? A toy? It would really help narrow things down. "Engineering drawing" is an awfully vague term.
posted by aramaic at 12:22 PM on September 5, 2007

It's a cm-scale machined metal part that interacts with a microscope stage. I think pj_rivera and aramaic have it as oxidized brass. Thanks everyone!
posted by Mapes at 12:41 PM on September 5, 2007