Hi, Sparktrician,
Although I have studied transcripts of the Standards Committee meetings, I have found no discussion of any particular set-back of hole rows. Perhaps this is because parts would functionally interchange even if the set back were to be different. On the other hand, there was a lot of discussion before 80mm up from the bottom fixed shelf and down from the fixed top shelf became a standard. Remember, the 80mm is measured on the inside from the inner face of the shelf, not necessarily the physical end of the side piece.
Reading the hundreds of books about using System 32, the common explanation for the 37mm from off-set is that experience soon showed that if the front shelf support were off-set more an empty shelf would tip forward and if less than 37mm the support pins would be too far apart for ideal support. I have not found bench note from experiments. I like to think hundreds of apprentices were required to drill test holes every millimeter from 30mm to 60mm so tipping tests could be done.
Also, one of the first post-WWII European-style cabinet door hinge needed a hole 37mm in from the face of the cabinet. My guess is this is the reason most of us use the 37mm off-set.
At about the same time as the hinges using 37mm off-set became popular, manufacturers designed drawer slides using a 37mm off-set for the forward hole.
My suggestion is to double check the installation specs of the selected hardware before calling for the 37mm off-set for the outside hole row!
